MANILA, Philippines — House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has condemned China’s continued intrusion in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), saying that the Chinese Coast Guard’s activities are becoming “increasingly aggressive” as time passes.
Romualdez in a statement on Monday highlighted that it was the second time in a week that Chinese ships were involved in an incident against Filipino vessels.
The Speaker was referring to the China Coast Guard (CCG) ship’s ramming of a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel near Escoda (Sabina) Shoal, a portion of the WPS well within the country’s 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone.
“Again, we condemn in the strongest terms this newest reckless and dangerous maneuvers by the China Coast Guard on our vessels, this time a [BFAR] ship conducting a humanitarian mission by resupplying Filipino fishermen with food, medical supplies, and diesel,” Romualdez said.
“(This is the second time in about a week that China) used its might to harass and terrorize our vessels and personnel inside our own territory,” he added.
A video taken by the Philippine Daily Inquirer Sunday afternoon showed CCG Ship 21551 hitting BRP Datu Sanday while some of its personnel were seen filming the incident, around 10 nautical miles off Escoda Shoal.
Another video showed that the CCG ship 4102 fired a water cannon against BRP Datu Sanday while en route to the shoal. Additionally, six CCG vessels simultaneously fired water cannons against the BFAR vessel.
READ: West PH Sea: China Coast Guard ship rams BFAR vessel near Escoda Shoal
According to China’s state broadcaster CCTV, it was the Philippine vessel that “illegally intruded into the waters near Xianbin Reef in the Nansha Islands without permission from the Chinese government.”
Aside from this latest incident, Romualdez noted that last August 19, China Coast Guard ships rammed two Philippine Coast Guard vessels.
READ: PH vessels rammed, harassed by China anew in West Philippine Sea – Malaya
“This area is clearly within the 200-mile exclusive economic zone of the Philippines under the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea, to which China and the Philippines are signatories,” Romualdez said, noting that the shoals are over 1,000 miles away from China’s southernmost tip.
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.
“Beijing should pursue consultations and dialogue as a way to resolve conflict, and not resort to confrontation and aggression,” he added.
For comprehensive coverage, in-depth analysis, visit our special page for West Philippine Sea updates. Stay informed with articles, videos, and expert opinions.
