Starting the year with a visit to China, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos Jr. must not forget to assert the country's rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and demand an end to the intimidating presence of Chinese militia and large fishing vessels to Filipino fishers, a fishers' group urged on Tuesday, Jan. 3.

In a statement, Fernando Hicap, national chairperson of Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA), asked Marcos, who will be in Beijing from Jan. 3 to 5 with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and the Philippine delegation, to do something about the Filipino fishermen's predicament and the "damages" caused by Chinese nationals in WPS.

“Hindi dapat palampasin ni Marcos Jr. ang kanyang pagbisita sa China para igiit at itaguyod ang ating karapatan sa West Philippine Sea. Hinahamon namin ang Pangulo na harapang ipatigil kay Chinese President Xi Jinping ang intimidasyon na idinudulot ng presensya ng mga Chinese militia at malalaking barkong pangisda nito sa mga Pilipinong mangingisda (Marcos Jr. should not miss the chance to assert and uphold our rights in the West Philippine Sea on his state visit to China. We urge the President to boldly demand Chinese President Xi Jinping to stop the intimidating presence of Chinese militia and large fishing vessels to Filipino fishers)," read the statement sent to the press.

"Hindi dapat isantabi ni Marcos Jr. ang mahalagang usaping ito para lamang makakuha ng dayuhang puhunan at pautang mula sa China. Naniniwala kaming mas malaki ang magiging pakinabang ng Pilipinas kung mapagbabayad ang China sa pinsalang ginawa nito sa ating karagatan, kumpara sa ipagkakaloob nitong dayuhang pautang at puhunan sa bansa (Marcos Jr. should not brush this pressing matter under the rug just to acquire foreign investment and loans from China. We believe that China’s monetary liabilities to the Philippines are indeed far greater than the foreign loans and investments it would extend to the country)," Hicap went on.

The official stressed that based on the study conducted by marine scientists from the University of the Philippines, China is "responsible" for the destruction of at least 550 hectares of coral reefs in Scarborough or Panatag Shoal and 1,300 hectares of coral reefs in the Kalayaan Group of Islands or Spratly Islands "due to its massive reclamation activities and other forms of destructive fishing practices."

"Nagkakahalaga ang nasirang mga bahura ng P33.1 bilyon kada taon, na kung susumahin mula nang okupahin ng Tsina ang Panatag Shoal noong 2012 hanggang sa kasalukuyan ay aabot sa P331 bilyon. Hindi pa kasama rito ang pwedeng singilin sa Tsina sa iligal na okupasyon nito sa loob ng mahigit isang dekada sa ating teritoryo (These damaged coral reefs cost P33.1 billion annually, which is equivalent to P331 billion when China seized Panatag Shoal in 2012. This does not include the pay back rent for China’s illegal occupation of our sea features for almost a decade)," he explained.

The group expressed optimism that favorable results will follow once the President shows "strong political will."

"Kinakailangan lamang ang malakas na pampulitikang paninindigan ni Bongbong Marcos para mapanagot ang Tsina sa malakihang pinsalang dinulot ng agresyon at pandarambong nito sa ating karagatan (All it takes is Marcos' strong political will to hold China accountable for its irreversible damage to our territorial waters caused by plunder and aggression)," Hicap noted.

To note, Marcos’ trip is seen to boost the relationship between the Philippines and China amid ongoing tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

“There is an expectation that the state visit will set the tone of bilateral relations between the two countries in the next five to six years,” Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Affairs Nathaniel Imperial said earlier.

It is also set to reaffirm the “cordial and neighborly” relations between the two countries and “ensure continuity in many facets of the bilateral relationship and chart new areas of engagement.”