By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, lead chair of the Lower House’s Quad Committee and chair of the House Dangerous Drugs panel, on Sunday (Nov. 17), criticized China for its bullying tactics by unabashedly questioning and trying to meddle over the country’s laws and policies intended to reinforce Philippine rights over the country’s maritime zones.
Barbers explains that while China wants respect over their unfounded West Philippine Sea (WPS) claims, they continuously disrespect the Philippines on its own claims and position on the matter.
Following numerous videotaped incidents of bullying, using water cannons, ramming ships and causing injuries to some of the Philippine Coast Guard personnel at the WPS, China is now trying to object, meddle, intimidate, and stop us from adopting and implementing laws and policies over the country’s maritime zones.
“While China wanted the international community to respect their self- drawn out nine-dash-line and eleven-dash line, they do not respect us and continue to intrude in our declared 200-mile economic zone and ignores the decision of United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS) on the issue,” the Quadcom overall chair said.
Barbers said the 135-member-state of UNCLOS, an arbitral ruling, has upheld the Philippine’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction in its exclusive 200-mile economic zone.
He issued the statement following China’s summon to the Philippine ambassador to explain the two recently enacted maritime laws – Republic Act 12064 and Republic Act 12065 – both aimed at reinforcing the country’s rights over its maritime zones.
Beijing said Manila should respect China’s territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interests, immediately stop taking unilateral actions, and earnestly maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.
Meanwhile, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. stated that the Philippines remains firm in its position on the country’s sovereignty in the WPS despite China’s objection to the passage of the new maritime and archipelagic sealane laws.
“Gusto ng China ng respeto sa claim nila sa WPS pero di nila tayo nirerespeto sa ating claim at position sa isyung ito, kasama na ang disrespect nila sa desisyon ng UNCLOS sa ating mga karapatan sa loob ng ating 200-mile economic zones,” Barbers said.
“Sinabi na ng UNCLOS na ang China ay walang historical rights at walang legal basis ang claim nila sa WPS. So, ibig sabihin, gawa-gawa lang o produkto lang ng kanilang imahinasyon ang kanilang claim,” he added. (with report from Mela Lesmoras/PTV News)
-avds