Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan is urging the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to exhaust all its resources and means to make China accountable after a reported assault by members of the China Coast Guard against a Philippine Navy officer during a recent resupply mission at Ayungin Shoal.
“Nananawagan tayo sa Department of Foreign Affairs na agad magsumite ng isang matibay na diplomatic protest. Ipabatid ang insidenteng ito sa ASEAN at sa iba pang mga bansang kaalyado natin,” he said in a statement on Tuesday, July 21.
“At gamitin ang lahat ng ligal at diplomatikong paraan, kabilang ang malinaw na 2016 Arbitral Award. Lahat ng ito upang papanagutin ang China, palakasin ang suporta ng pandaigdigang komunidad, at ipagtanggol ang karapatan ng Pilipinas, ang kaligtasan ng ating mamamayan, at ang kapayapaan sa West Philippine Sea,” he added.
He stressed that the Philippines has every right to conduct lawful and peaceful operations within its own exclusive economic zone (EEZ), consistent with international law, including the 2016 Arbitral Award under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The arbitral victory, awarded to the Philippines a decade ago, invalidated the basis of China’s nine-dash-line claim, which covers almost the entirety of the West Philippine Sea, including the EEZs of neighboring Southeast Asian countries.
“Nasa bakuran na namin kayo, kayo pa ang may ganang manakit. Ang ganitong pananakit at paggamit ng dahas laban sa aming mga tauhan ay labag sa basic GMRC at sa obligasyon ng mga estado sa ilalim ng international law na umiwas sa banta at paggamit ng puwersa,” the senator said.
“Nagsalita na ang international tribunal: Isang low-tide elevation sa loob ng EEZ at continental shelf ng Pilipinas ang Ayungin Shoal, at wala kayong anumang “historic rights” o sovereign rights na puwedeng mang-override sa karapatan ng Pilipinas sa mga lugar na ito,” Pangilinan stressed.
He called on China to stop the bullying and to adhere to international laws and the arbitral ruling, which has the support of over 40 other countries.
On Monday, a Philippine Navy personnel was injured after he was assaulted by members of the China Coast Guard during a confrontation at the Ayungin Shoal, which is well within the Philippines’ EEZ and continental shelf.
The DFA, the Department of National Defense (DND), and the National Task Force for West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) strongly condemned the attack.