Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said China's 'utter disregard of the international law' is appalling, as he hit back at China for insisting that the Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea is part of its territory.
(Photo courtesy of National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea / FILE PHOTO)
"The utter disregard by the Chinese Embassy in Manila of international law, especially the UNCLOS to which China is a party, is appalling. It's nine-dash line claim is without any factual or legal basis. This, together with its so-called historical claim, was flatly and categorically rejected by the arbitral tribunal," said Lorenzana.
The Defense Chief was reacting to the statement of the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines who stated that the Julian Felipe Reef, which it calls Niu'e Jiao, is part of China;s Nansha Islands and has been a traditional fishing ground for Chinese fishermen.
"It is completely normal for Chinese fishing vessels to fish in the waters and take shelter near the reef during rough sea conditions. Nobody has the right to make wanton remarks on such activities," the Chinese Embassy to the Philippines statement read.
It was in reaction to the strongly-worded statement issued by Lorenzana on Saturday, April 3, after 44 Chinese vessels continue to stay at the Julian Felipe Reef despite good sea condition.
In hitting China's refusal to leave the Julian Felipe Reef, Lorenzana, in another statement issued on Sunday, April 5, resurrected the historic win of the Philippines over China at the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in 2016 to negate the East Asian giant's recent justification of the continued presence of its 44 vessels at the Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
The Defense Chief was referring to the landmark ruling issued by the PCA in Hague, The Netherlands which favored Manila's claims over Beijing's in the vast South China Sea. The area, now known as the West Philippine Sea, is within the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines.
In 2016, the PCA invalidated the legality of China's so-called "nine-dash line" claim using their "historic rights" in claiming a major portion of the South China Sea. However, China is not honoring the ruling and was eventually sidelined after President Duterte took a shift of foreign policy by being friendly with China, which in turn promised to grant Philippines with loans for infrastructure and other development projects. But months before the end of Duterte's term, the multi-billion dollar worth of projects that China promised to Duterte remain unfulfilled.
"The Philippines' claims stand on solid ground, while China's do not. China should respect Philippine sovereignty over the Kalayaan Islands and its sovereign rights over its exclusive economic zone as defined by UNCLOS and affirmed by the arbitral award," Lorenzana said.
He also expressed worry that the presence of Chinese fishing vessels believed to be manned by maritime militia in the area "reveals their intent to further occupy features in the West Philippine Sea."
"They have done this before at Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc and at Panganiban Reef brazenly violating Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights under international law," he said, referring to China's construction at artificial islands on Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc off Zambales in 2012, and on Panganiban (Mischief) Reef.
Lorenzana said that China, as a party to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), "should refrain from conducting activities that disturb regional and international peace and security."
Lorenzana's explosive remarks followed his statement on Black Saturday that China has no business to stay at the Julian Felipe Reef since the weather was already clear.
Prior to this, the Chinese Embassy claimed that the 220 vessels found in the area were seeking refuge from the bad weather.
The number has since decreased to 44 but the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea bared that the other vessels just dispersed to other areas in the West Philipine Sea and Kalayaan Island Group in Palawan.
"I am no fool. The weather has been good so far, so they have no other reason to stay there. These vessels should be on their way out. Umalis na kayo dyan (Leave the area)," Lorenzana had said.
The Chinese Embassy called out the "perplexing" statement of Lorenzana as it claimed that Julian Felipe Reef, which it calls Niu'Jiao, is part of their Nansha Islands.
"It is completely normal for Chinese fishing vessels to fish in the waters and take shelter bear the reef during rough sea conditions. Nobody has the right to make wanton remarks on such activities," it said.