Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Richard Gordon, in a statement on Monday, Oct. 23, called on the Philippine government to "stand up to China" and protect its territorial integrity.
Gordon issued a statement following the recent blocking maneuver of a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship and a Chinese maritime militia vessel (CMMV) that collided with a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship and an Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that was bringing supplies to troops onboard BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin.
"The Philippines must stand up to China and protect its territorial integrity," Gordon said.
"China's action constitutes a crime of aggression under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court," he added.
Gordon also urged the government to immediately strengthen its military and navy. He also pointed out that other countries, such as Indonesia and Argentina, have stood up to China by "burning encroaching Chinese fishing boats."
"We must call a spade a spade. China is not just a bully. It is an aggressor that aimed to have hegemonic power over the Asia Pacific region," he added.
Gordon stressed the 2016 Decision of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Arbitral Tribunal, which clearly states that Mischief Reef and Second Thomas Shoal are within the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of the Philippines.
"We have sovereign rights over Ayungin Shoal, it being in our exclusive economic zone. We must protect those rights," the chairman emphasized.
Furthermore, he urged the government to prioritize the development of the country's economy, including removing corruption. He suggested that the Philippines should have steel mills that could supply the construction of coast guard vessels.
"We must be concerned and call on the Government to focus on building the country's economy, including removing corruption," he said.
"Asserting our sovereign rights over our exclusive economic zone will not happen overnight," Gordon said. "But we have started already and must continue to do so consistently and without letup," he added.