By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
The National Maritime Council (NMC) on Saturday said the Philippines will continue to carry out lawful maritime operations in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) to protect the country’s sovereignty and the Filipino fisherfolk.
The NMC issued the statement as it reiterated the Philippines’ “clear and settled position” that its actions in the WPS are lawful, responsible, and firmly anchored on international law,” citing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 arbitral award.
Responding to China’s recent remarks concerning the situation in WPS, the NMC said the Philippines’ lawful actions “should not be misrepresented as acts of aggression or provocation.”
“Guided by these principles, the Philippines continues to pursue a policy of restraint, transparency, and respect for international law,” the NMC said.
“Philippine maritime activities will continue to be conducted in order to protect the country’s sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction and to safeguard the welfare of Filipinos, especially our traditional fisherfolk and coastal communities relying on the sea for their livelihood,” it added.
The statement came after the Chinese Embassy in Manila criticized the Philippines’ alleged “provocative” acts, claiming that Filipino fisherfolk are being used as “political tools to intrude into sensitive waters.”
The embassy also claimed that there is no such term as “maritime zones” in the UNCLOS.
The NMC stressed that the 2016 arbitral ruling, which is final and legally binding, clarified the application of UNCLOS in the South China Sea and the WPS.
The arbitral award also affirmed the Philippines’ maritime entitlements, including its sovereign rights over features within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf, such as Ayungin Shoal [and] Panganiban Reef, the NMC said.
The NMC cited the arbitral tribunal’s finding that large-scale land reclamation and artificial island-building, as well as the harvesting of endangered marine species by Chinese vessels within the Philippines’ EEZ and in Bajo de Masinloc, “caused serious harm to the marine environment and violated UNCLOS.”
“On the other hand, the Philippines has remained faithful to UNCLOS and its resort to arbitration was found to be firmly grounded in UNCLOS and general international law,” it said.
“It is to be underscored that both the Philippines and China have already given their advance consent to compulsory arbitration upon their ratification of the UNCLOS and that the maritime issues brought by the Philippines for resolution by arbitration were found to be within the Tribunal’s jurisdiction under UNCLOS.”
The NMC reiterated the country’s commitment to the peaceful management of differences through dialogue and confidence-building measures, while remaining firm in speaking out when its sovereignty, sovereign rights or jurisdiction are challenged, in support of a rules-based maritime order.
It said the country seeks to prevent misunderstandings and miscalculations at sea, ensuring that activities are carried out “safely, professionally, and in accordance with international law.”
“We remain ready to engage constructively, in good faith and with mutual respect, in the interest of peace, stability, and cooperation in the region,” the NMC said. (PNA)
