Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Representative Leila de Lima has urged the Philippine government to elevate China’s continued aggression in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) to the United Nations (UN) and the international courts, following the latest incident involving the China Coast Guard’s harassment of a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel near Pag-asa Island.
The former Senator called on Malacañang to go beyond filing diplomatic protests, saying China’s repeated bullying has severely affected the livelihood of Filipino fishermen and undermined the country’s sovereign rights.
“Hindi puwedeng hanggang diplomatic protests na lang,” the lawmaker asserted, stressing that it’s time for stronger and more decisive international action.
According to de Lima, she and her colleagues in the House of Representatives have already filed a resolution urging the Marcos administration to bring the WPS issue before the UN General Assembly and to file a new arbitral case against China before an international tribunal.
She emphasized that gaining broader international support is crucial in compelling China to respect the Philippines’ maritime rights under international law.
“China’s actions have gone too far. Our government must explore every possible avenue to protect our people, our waters, and our sovereignty,” de Lima said.