House minority lawmakers have fiercely condemned China’s “entitled bully” behavior following a fresh maritime intrusion off the coast of Zambales, arguing that Beijing’s actions make any potential joint energy exploration deal completely unacceptable.
The backlash, led by Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Representative Leila de Lima and Akbayan Party-list Representatives Dadah Kiram Ismula and Perci Cendaña, came after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) successfully tracked and challenged a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel drifting a mere 50 nautical miles from the Zambales shoreline.
De Lima, the House senior deputy minority leader, highly commended the PCG for its steadfastness on the frontlines.
”We laud the [PCG] for defending and asserting that what is ours is ours. Ipinakikita nito ang ating paninindigan at pinatutunayan na hindi tayo magwawalang-kibo sa panghihimasok ng dayuhan sa ating sariling bakuran, (This shows our resolve and proves that we will not remain silent against foreign intrusion in our own backyard,)” De Lima said.
She noted that China’s refusal to respond to radio challenges within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) was a direct violation of international law and the Philippine Maritime Zones Act.
”China’s refusal to acknowledge our radio challenges while within our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) demonstrates the behavior of a superpower who feels entitled to bully others,” De Lima added.
Echoing this sentiment, Representative Ismula slammed Beijing’s “brazen intrusion” and warned that China cannot be trusted as a partner in resource development while it actively violates Philippine sovereignty.
”Wala pa ring respeto ang China sa ating soberanya dito sa kanilang pagaaligid sa Zambales; hinding hindi sila mapagkakatiwalaan na mag-engage in good faith sa pag-explore ng oil, (China still has no respect for our sovereignty with their loitering in Zambales; they can never be trusted to engage in good faith in oil exploration,)” Ismula asserted.
“Magsimula muna ang China na kilalanin at respetuhin ang 2016 Arbitral Award na nagsasabing sa Pilipinas ang [WPS] at masimulan ang accountability sa damage na ginawa nila sa karagatan. Kung sa imagination ng China ay kanila ang [WPS], malamang aangkinin din nila ang kung ano mang oil ang makuha doon. (China must first start acknowledging and respecting the 2016 Arbitral Award which states that the WPS belongs to the Philippines, and begin accountability for the damage they caused to the ocean. If in China’s imagination the WPS is theirs, they will likely also claim whatever oil is extracted there.)”
Representative Cendaña strongly supported this stance, pointing out that Beijing’s actions consistently betray its diplomatic rhetoric.
”China actions and words show there is little good faith on their part. Hindi magkakaroon ng matino at maayos na usapan kasama ang China kung pag-aangkin agad sa [WPS] at pagbabalewala sa international law ang totoong interes nila, (There can be no decent and proper discussion with China if immediate claims over the WPS and disregard for international law are their true interests,)” Cendaña said.
The lawmakers’ sharp rebukes come despite recent assurances from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that any potential joint oil and gas exploration agreement would strictly adhere to the Philippine Constitution and uphold the nation’s sovereign prerogatives over its continental shelf.
To counter ongoing harassment, De Lima urged the government to deepen ties with regional allies to protect a rules-based international order. She also called on her colleagues in Congress to fast-track the passage of House Bill No. 5131, or the “Revised Philippine Coast Guard Law,” to equip the PCG with the organizational and policy reforms necessary to secure the country’s maritime domain.