Gordon: China should simply leave Philippine waters for regional stability
China should withdraw its presence in the West Philippine Sea if it is truly our friend and partner, Senator Richard J. Gordon on Monday said.
‘’We have always been friends with the Chinese people and there are many good and enduring business, economic, socio-civic, and cultural relations between us,’’ Gordon said.
‘’But the Chinese government needs to suit its action to its words and vice versa. If China is truly our friend and partner as their government says, then they must not enter and occupy our waters, harass our Navy and ram into our Coast Guard's boats, shoot at and sink our fishermen's boats, and steal their catch,’’ he added.
This, after Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. told China to simply leave Philippine waters and not create tension in the region.
‘’We reiterate our condemnation of the Chinese government's intrusion into our territory and demand that they stop all aggressive and illegal activity in Philippine waters,’’ Gordon said.
‘’At a time like this, we should be focusing our combined energy in helping those who are suffering instead of squabbling about territory,’’ he added.