The National Security Council (NSC) on Monday condemned China’s recurring unlawful activities in Philippine maritime zones, including unauthorized fishing, suspected marine scientific research and dangerous maneuvers, saying these threatened Filipino personnel, the livelihoods of local fisherfolk and the country’s maritime rights.
The NSC issued the statement following reports of waste dumping within the territorial sea of Kota Island, unauthorized fishing near Lawak Island, suspected marine scientific research without Philippine consent off Batanes, and interference with lawful and routine Philippine maritime activities.
“These actions threaten the safety of Filipino personnel, undermine the livelihoods of Filipino fisherfolk, and interfere with the Philippines’ lawful exercise of its maritime rights,” the NSC said.
The NSC said the Philippines exercises sovereignty over its territory and territorial sea, as well as sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf, under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
It added that fishing in Philippine territorial waters without proper authorization violates Philippine laws and maritime rights. Dangerous maneuvers may also violate applicable international obligations, it said.
“China’s continued assertions cannot override the Convention or erase the legal effect of the Arbitral Award. Repeated deployments and unilateral claims cannot create maritime entitlements that international law does not recognize, nor can they diminish the rights that belong to the Filipino people,” the NSC said.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) rejected claims that the government was engaging in anti-China rhetoric amid calls to declare Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan persona non grata, saying the issue stemmed from China’s continued harassment of Filipinos in Philippine waters.
Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, made the remark when asked about the Chinese Embassy’s description of some senators as “anti-China politicians.”
“Alam mo wala namang anti-China dito. Ang issue dito si Ambassador Jing Quan at ang kanyang Chinese Communist Party is an imperialist bully and greedy country,” Tarriela said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.
(There is no anti-China sentiment here. The issue is that Ambassador Jing Quan and his Chinese Communist Party represent an imperialist bully and a greedy country.)
“Sila ang patuloy na nanghaharass ng ating mga mangingisdang Pilipino, nangbu-bully ng Armed Forces of the Philippines, at ng PCG sa sarili nating karagatan at patuloy nilang inaangkin ang West Philippine Sea,” he added.
(They are the ones who continue to harass Filipino fishermen, bully the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the PCG in our own waters, and assert their claims over the West Philippine Sea.)
GMA News Online has reached out to the Chinese Embassy in Manila for comment and will update this story once a response is received.
Quan recently told senators and other lawmakers to “stop bluffing” amid discussions about declaring him persona non grata.
The controversy erupted after Quan said China could easily defeat the Philippines if it resorted to force but was choosing peace instead. The Philippine government subsequently called out the Chinese envoy over what it described as a thinly veiled threat of force.
Tarriela said no foreign ambassador had previously issued such a threat against the Philippines.
“This is the first Chinese ambassador or foreign… na nanakot sa sarili nating bansa,” he said.
Tarriela also accused Quan of trying to create the impression that the Philippines could do nothing to counter China’s actions.
“Parang ganito ‘yan. Malaki ako, gusto kitang saktan, pero hindi kita sasaktan dahil gusto ko ng kapayapaan. Anong masasabi natin? Does it mean he really cares about peace? Does he really love peace?” he said.
(It is like saying, “I am bigger than you and I want to hurt you, but I will not because I want peace.” What can we make of that? Does it mean he really cares about peace?)
“If you’re going to start your statement na sasabihin mong, kung gagamitan kayo ng pwersa, talo kayo eh. It’s actually setting the narrative na wala tayong magagawa sa kanila,” he added.
(If you begin by saying that the Philippines would lose if China used force, you are setting the narrative that we can do nothing against them.)
Tarriela also said the PCG has not monitored any Chinese research vessels in the northern portion of the country’s EEZ.
“As we speak right now, wala na tayong Chinese research vessel na minomonitor or china-challenge dito sa gawing norte ng ating EEZ,” Tarriela said.
(As we speak, we are no longer monitoring or challenging any Chinese research vessels in the northern portion of our EEZ.) — MCG, GMA News
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