Speaker Romualdez slams China’s threat to arrest foreigners in WPS which is within PH’s EEZ
Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez condemned China’s threat to detain foreigners going to the West Philippine Sea, which is within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.
According to Speaker Romualdez, this statement only intensifies the tension in the WPS.
“China’s aggressive pronouncements are a blatant escalation of tensions in the West Philippine Sea. These unilateral actions flagrantly violate international law and the established norms that guide the Philippines and other law-abiding nations with claims in the South China Sea,” said Speaker Romualdez.
Speaker Romualdez insisted that China should respect the Arbitral ruling, which is also recognized by the countries of the world, saying that the Philippines has the right to the WPS.
“China must respect international rulings and act as a responsible member of the global community, rather than imposing its own laws unilaterally and bullying other nations,” said Speaker Romualdez.
“The House of the Filipino People will not tolerate any arrests of our citizens or fishermen within our own Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). We will fiercely defend our sovereignty and ensure the safety and rights of our people,” the leader of the Congress, which has more than 300 representatives, insisted.
In a report by the South China Morning Post, it was said that the Chinese government and China Coast Guard have been empowered to arrest anyone who enters its guarded territory including contested territory.
