Bayan Muna Representative Ferdinand Gaite on Friday, April 16, called on the Duterte administration to intensify its assertions of Philippine territorial integrity over the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
In a statement, Gaite also pressed the administration to act more decisively in addressing Chinese military presence on Philippine seas and islands.
‘’It must reverse its exaggeratedly chummy and disconcertingly submissive diplomatic policy towards China and start standing up for Philippine sovereignty,’’ he said.
On the trademark registration for land features in the WPS, Bayan Muna slammed the "yet another blatant assault on the sovereignty of the Philippines and the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration which declared that China has no historic rights over the waters of the West Philippine Sea and the islands therein."
‘’This lawfare or the misuse of legal systems and principles is but a desperate attempt by China to bolster its dubious ‘Nine-Dash-Line’ claim, It is basically a propaganda offensive to perpetuate these false claims to our and other nations’ territories,’’ Gaite said.
‘’We trust that other nations would respect the decision of the Permanent Court and reject any efforts to register the same trademarks under their respective jurisdictions. Let the Chinese government and the people behind these trademarks fool themselves over their illegitimate claims, the Court’s decision is clear – West Philippine Sea is ours. No Chinese trademark can overturn that ruling,’’ the lawmaker added.