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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Lakas-CMD blasts China maritime forces for 'illegal and blatant actions' 

Lakas-CMD blasts China maritime forces for 'illegal and blatant actions' 

Published Oct 25, 2023 04:08 am

At A Glance

  • House Speaker Martin Romualdez's political party, the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), has condemned in "the strongest possible terms" the latest aggressive actions of China in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). 

alejandro-luengo-jL0tMFYOdBM-unsplash.jpgFlag of China (Unsplash)

House Speaker Martin Romualdez's political party, the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), has condemned in "the strongest possible terms" the latest aggressive actions of China in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

"We, the members of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), condemn in the strongest possible terms the illegal and blatant actions of the China Coast Guard and the Chinese maritime militia last Oct. 22, 2023 in the waters near the vicinity of the Ayungin Shoal," the Lakas-CMD said in a statement Wednesday, Oct. 25.

In the incident, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel hit and bumped a Philippine Navy contracted boat ferrying supplies to BRP Sierra Madre while another vessel of the Chinese maritime militia also bumped the Philippine Coast Guard vessel MRRV Cabra.

"Said actions seriously endangered the lives and safety of Filipinos on board said vessels. The illegal and dangerous maneuvers of the Chinese vessels clearly violated the international conventions on the prevention of collisions at seas," the party said.

"Furthermore, the reckless and aggressive behavior of the Chinese vessels occured in waters within the 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Philippines based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)," it noted.

Romualdez, president of Lakas-CMD and Leyte's 1st district representative, earlier slammed China over the incident for the same reasons.

"Such actions not only jeopardized the lives of those onboard but also threatened regional peace and stability," he said last Oct. 23.

According to Lakas-CMD, China's continuing intrusion and aggressive stance "constitutes a stark affront to our nation's sovereign rights over our waters and pose a direct threat to Filipino lives".

"Actions that undermine regional and global peace and cooperation are incompatible with the principles of a free and harmonious international community," it said.

"We remain steadfast in our commitment to a rules-based international order and wholeheartedly support and endorse the July 2016 arbitral award which unequivocally recognizes Philippine sovereign rights in the [WPS]," it added.

"We therefore call on the Chinese government to desist from its aggressive posture and behavior and unfounded claims over waters in the [WPS] that in accordance with international law belong to the [EEZ] of the Philippines," the party further said.

Lakas-CMD also expressed its "full and unqualified support to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr as the chief architect of the nation's foreign policy and as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces in his handling of this important national concern".

Lakas-CMD is the largest political party in the House of Representatives, with 73 members.

Related Tags

Lakas-CMD Martin Romualdez West Philippine Sea
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