The progressive Bayan Muna Party-list has called on the national government–particularly the incoming administration–to be more proactive in defending its exclusive economic zones (EEZs) and territories from China.

This, following two incidents last April during which Chinese Coast Guard ships harassed Filipino fishing boats at the Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

In 2016, the Netherlands Permnanent Court of Arbitration ruling, better known as the 2016 Hague ruling, invalidated China’s claim over the WPS.

“ should be more pro-active now in asserting our territorial rights than just lodging diplomatic protests,” said Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate in a statement on Monday, May 30.

“Filing of diplomatic protests or demarche, or, even summoning China's ambassador to explain its continued incursions, aggression and occupation of maritime features in the West Philippine Sea may no longer be enough. Clearly, China does not accept accountability, like it even insisted that Julian Felipe Reef is theirs even if it is clearly part of our exclusive economic zone; worse now, is their new tactic of risk collisions near Ayungin shoal to isolate the atoll in our own territory," Zarate continued.

The incumbent solon added that the current president of the Philippines and the incoming President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. should both denounce China’s aggressions towards Filipino fisherfolk operating within Philippine territory.

"The government can still, in fact, resort to UNCLOS and other treaty bodies to demand justice for what China is doing. Malacañang must assert the historic Permanent Tribunal ruling in 2016 and abandon this vassal-like deferrence to China," he said

"China must be held to account for its aggressive imperialist acts, not only for them to leave our occupied reefs and other parts of our EEZ but also to salvage the country's dignity from a humiliating servile relationship with China. If Pres. Duterte or the incoming president will just continue this servile foreign policy to China, then the WPS is as good as sold or surrendered by default to China," Zarate concluded.