Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday, April 5, reminded the government that the Philippines is not alone in its fight against China's repeated incursions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
(Senate of the Philippines / FILE PHOTO)
"The Philippines is not alone. The international community stands beside us in condemning China’s continued deceit and aggression. China better pack up and leave," Hontiveros said in a statement.
"The world is catching on to China's gray zone smokescreen. How long will it keep using 'civilian' vessels to pursue military activities in our EEZ? A strategy based on lies and deception does not always make one sublime; sometimes, it also exposes one as lying," she further said.
Hontiveros had heavily criticized the continued presence of Chinese vessels in the Julian Felipe Reef, which is part of the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The senator's statement comes after Defense Chief Delfin Lorenzana, Jr. criticized the month-long presence of dozens of Chinese vessels at the reef and accused China of occupying the maritime features in the West Philippine Sea.
Last Saturday, April 3, Lorenzana told Chinese authorities he doesn't believe the vessels were fishing boats that had taken shelter at the reef due to bad weather and told them to "get out of there."
But the Chinese Embassy shot back at the defense chief for his "wanton remarks" and insisted that the reef was part of China’s Nansha Islands and a “traditional fishing ground” for the Chinese “for many years.”
"Ang titigas ng ulo (They are so stubborn). The Chinese vessels in Julian Felipe reef should leave immediately. If they are fishing vessels as China claims, then they can't fish in our Exclusive Economic Zone without our consent. Misunderstanding nga ba o sadya na tayong niloloko (Is that really a misunderstanding or are they trying to fool us)?" Hontiveros pointed out.
"May pandemya pa tayong nilalabanan, tapos ang Tsina nanggugulo pa (We are battling a pandemic and yet China is messing around)," she noted.
Hontiveros further said she believes the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) wants to be Asia's leader but, instead, it has become "Asia's biggest bully."
"Instead of uniting the region, it has united the region against it. How long can such a regime hold any sort of mandate to lead the region?" she said.
The Philippine government, she said, ought to review its policies and bilateral relationship with China.
"As I’ve said in earlier statements, the Philippine government should also already study effective ways of making China pay for her incursion. Beijing has damaged parts of our seas beyond repair and it’s only right that it pays for this irreversible destruction," Hontiveros stressed.
"We need to act now. We need to expel these 'fishing vessels' from our EEZ and dismantle all illegal structures on the reefs and features we claim. Every delay on our end is an opportunity for China to seize what is justly and rightfully ours," she reiterated.