BY VICTOR REYES and ASHZEL HACHERO
DEFENSE Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr yesterday rebuked China for allegedly resorting to threats against the Philippines amid growing tension in connection with the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea.
In a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Teodoro also challenged China to submit itself to arbitration process and present to the whole world the basis of its claim to almost the entire South China Sea to finally settle the long-standing dispute.
Teodoro made the statements after the Chinese foreign ministry asked the Philippines to “‘immediately stop its infringement and provocation and refrain from undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea.”
‘’If the Philippines insists on going its own way, China will continue to adopt resolute measures to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.”‚The Philippines should be prepared to bear all potential consequences,’’ the Chinese foreign ministry added.
The Department of Foreign Affairs, meanwhile, summoned the charge d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Manila to explain the latest dangerous maneuvers of Chinese Coast Guard vessels against a Philippine ships.
The charge d’affaires is the second highest ranking official in the embassy.
DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said the department conveyed Manila’s “strong protest against the aggressive actions” committed by the Chinese Coast Guard and Chinese maritime militia.”
On Saturday, Chinese vessels again harassed Philippine vessels delivering supplies to troops stationed at Philippine-occupied Ayungin Shoal or Second Thomas Shoal. Three Navy personnel were injured and a military-chartered civilian supply boat was damaged due to China’s dangerous maneuvers and water cannoning.
The Chinese Coast Guard has justified its action, saying the Philippine mission was a “deliberate and provocative move that infringes upon China’s sovereignty and legitimate rights and interests and undermines peace and stability in the South China Sea.”
Teodoro dismissed the claim of the Chinese foreign ministry that Philippines was violating China’s territorial sovereignty and rights, saying China is violating the rights of the Philippines.
“No country in the whole world believes that (Chinese narrative),” said Teodoro, adding the world believes China is “using force to threaten and pressure Philippines into submitting to its ambition.”
“So that is my reaction. Why are you threatening us?” he added.
On China’s pronouncements that it wants a peaceful settlement of the dispute through consultation and dialogue, Teodoro said, “If they really want (peace), if they are not afraid of presenting to the whole world their claim, why should we not submit ourselves to arbitration under international law so that it will be clear to everyone what is their right.
Why are they against it?” he said.
“Then if they are caught with wrong statements, they are going to make threats. Is that right? That is not right. Even a grade school student knows what is right and wrong. That is not right,” said Teodoro.
On the resupply missions, Teodoro noted Ayungin Shoal is well within the country’s 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
“If we are doing it within their 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone from Hainan, that’s provocation (on the Philippine side),” he said.
He said China is harassing Philippine ships inside the Philippines’ EEZ.
“If they want, they should tell the world their position under the international law. We (Philippines) will state our position. Let’s arbitrate it. That is the best way of solving a dispute sustainably, that is why they (Chinese) don’t want that,” he said.
Daza said the country’s embassy in Beijing was also instructed to lodge a démarche with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“In these démarches, the Philippines stressed, among others, that China has no right to be in Ayungin Shoal, a low-tide elevation that lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in accordance with the 1982 UNCLOS and as affirmed by the 2016 Arbitral Award,” Daza said.
“China’s continued interference with the Philippines’ routine and lawful activities in its own exclusive economic zone is unacceptable. It infringes upon the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction,” she added.
Daza also reiterated Manila’s demand for Beijing to pull out its vessels in the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal and the country’s EEZ “immediately.”
SINCERITY
She also said that contrary to Beijing’s assertion, Manila remains committed to peaceful resolution of the maritime territorial dispute in the disputed waters. But, she said, China’s actions call into question its sincerity in lowering tension and promoting peace and stability in the disputed waters.
“Even as the Philippines continues to engage China in dialogue and diplomacy at the bilateral and multilateral levels, China’s aggressive actions contradict and put to waste ASEAN-China efforts to promote practical activities to foster peace and cooperation in the region,” Daza said.
She urged China to abide by international law and respect the legitimate rights of other countries, adding that Beijing should also adhere to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
Both the Philippines and China are signatories to the UNCLOS.
Under the UNCLOS, the Philippines as a coastal state is entitled to have a 200-mile exclusive economic zone.
The arbitral panel has dismissed China’s massive claim in the South China Sea and held that its so-called nine dash line claim has no legal or historical basis.
China, however, refused to abide by the arbitral ruling.
‘AT CROSSROADS’
Yesterday, China warned the Philippines on Monday to behave cautiously and seek dialogue, saying their relations were at a “crossroads” as new confrontations between their coast guards over maritime claims deepened tensions.
It was the second such warning by the Chinese foreign ministry in three months as the two countries openly sparred over the territorial claims.
The message was delivered by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong during a phone call with Philippine counterpart Theresa Lazaro.
In the call, Lazaro relayed Manila’s “strongest protest against the aggressive actions” by the China Coast Guard and maritime militia against a Philippines’ resupply mission in the South China Sea, her ministry said in a statement.
Chen said in a statement: “China once again urges the Philippines to honor its commitments and consensus, stop its maritime abuses and provocations, stop any unilateral actions that may complicate the situation, and earnestly return to the right track of properly handling differences through dialogue and consultation with China.”
China’s foreign ministry said on Monday the Philippines had reneged on a promise to tow away the ship, “violating the commitments it has made to the Chinese side on many occasions.” — With Reuters
