MANILA, Philippines — While it is true that China is stronger based on military might, a lawmaker has maintained that the battle for sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) was already won by the Philippines.
In a statement on Friday, Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima said the words from Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan shows how an invader would speak.
Jing said that China can easily win in a military contest but China is seeking a peaceful resolution to its dispute with the Philippines
However, de Lima reminded Jing that the world knows who won the legal battle for the WPS.
“The latest statement of Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan basically says ‘we are stronger, so be grateful that we don’t use our might to crush you,’” de Lima said.
“This is absolutely the language of a liar and an invader who lacks sincerity in promoting peace,” she observed.
“They may be mightier, but the world knows who has already won in our fight for sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea,” de Lima recalled.
“And they know the consequences if they resort to using force against us,” she noted.
According to the lawmaker, if China wants peace, the way to achieve it is for its naval assets to get out of the Philippine territory, and stop harassing the country’s fisherfolk.
“If they truly love peace, then they should get out of our territory and stop harassing our countrymen and depriving our fishermen of their livelihoods,” she said.
“They are the ones bringing trouble, intruding, and claiming our territories,” she added.
De Lima was referring to the Philippines’ victory in 2016, when the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) award stated that the Philippines has exclusive rights over its waters.
The tribunal also ruled that China’s nine-dash line claim had no legal or historical basis.
This means that the WPS, a body of water that forms part of the South China Sea, belongs to the Philippines as it sits inside the country’s exclusive economic zone.
READ: PH wins arbitration case over South China Sea
China, however, insists ownership on many islands inside the WPS, despite the award.
On Thursday, Jing said that China could “easily win” a military conflict with the Philippines, but it would not use force to settle maritime disputes between the two countries.
However, the envoy warned that the Philippines faced a greater risk of confrontation if it did not reestablish direct military-to-military communications.
These communications have been suspended by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. for about three years now.
“If we want to use force, we may easily win. But no, we will not use force. You know, we love peace,” Jing told reporters.
He made the remarks on the sidelines of the second Diliman Dialogues organized by the Philippines-China Studies Center of Diliman College in Quezon City.
READ: China can ‘easily win’ using force, but wants peace, says envoy to PH
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday described Jing’s words as a threat that exacerbates the strained ties between the Philippines and China.
On Friday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that he would summon Jing over the envoy’s remarks.
The president said in an interview that the matter “deserves a discussion between the ambassador and myself.”
READ: Marcos to summon Chinese envoy over ‘threatening’ remarks
Marcos also observed that Jing’s statements sounded like a threat.
Since the president assumed office in 2022, ties between the two countries have been strained.
The current administration maintained that the Philippines will not cede an inch of its territory to foreign powers.
Several incidents between the two countries’ water assets have been well-documented.
Just this July, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reported that a Navy personnel was injured after members of the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) assaulted him during a confrontation at Ayungin Shoal.
READ: China behaves like ‘riding-in-tandem’ criminals over waters, solon says
In August 2023, a CCG vessel water-cannoned Philippine vessels, which were only trying to bring supplies to soldiers at BRP Sierra Madre.
In response to the event, China claimed that a former administration promised to remove BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin, but the promise has not been acted upon.
Marcos then said that he has not made that agreement, and if such a deal exists, it has already been terminated. /apl
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