Source: Philippine Coast Guard file photo
Barbers hits China new for bullying tactics
A LAWMAKER from Mindanao on Saturday assailed again the “expansionist” China government 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.
Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, lead chair of the Lower House’s Quad Committee and chair of the House Dangerous Drugs panel said that while China wanted us to respect their claims in the West Philippine Sea, a claim that were without historical and legal basis, they continuously disrespect us on our own claims and position on the matter.
The Quadcom overall chair issued the statement after China summoned 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.
Barbers said after numerous videotaped incidents of bullying, using water cannons, ramming ships and causing injuries to some of our 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,” he said.
“The Hague-based decision, constituted under Unclos, ruled that China’s claim of historic rights to resources in areas falling within its invisible demarcation (in the West Philippine Sea) ‘had no basis in law and is without legal effect’,” he added.
Barbers said the 135-member-state Unclos, in an arbitral ruling, has upheld the Philippine’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction in its exclusive 200-mile economic zone.
“China wanted the Philippines to respect its unfounded claims in the West Philippine Sea but they manifestly disrespect our position on this issue and the decision of the Unclos on the matter,” Barbers said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has stated that the Philippines stays 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, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Thursday.
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.
“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.
