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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Villafuerte hopes proposed WPS joint patrols would make headway during Marcos' US visit

Villafuerte hopes proposed WPS joint patrols would make headway during Marcos' US visit

Published May 2, 2023 04:05 am
Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte (Facebook)





Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte is optimistic that the Biden adminiatration would hasten discussions on the planned joint maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) during President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s ongoing visit to the United States (US). Specifically, Villafuerte wants to see "a final agreement on joint patrols not only with the US but with our other allies as well such as Japan and Australia”. The Bicol solon, who sits as the National Unity Party (NUP) president, is holding on to the US State Department's statement last week that during his meeting with Mr. Marcos, “President [Joe] Biden will reaffirm the United States’ ironclad commitment to the defense of the Philippines and the leaders will discuss efforts to strengthen the long-standing US-Philippines alliance.” Marcos and Biden met at the White House in Washington DC on Tuesday, May 2. Villafuerte crossed his fingers on such a final agreement as he continued to slam regional giant China for its supposed acts of aggression in the WPS, including the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ). “With Beijing ignoring time and again the hundreds of diplomatic protests that have been filed by Manila over the nonstop intrusions of Chinese vessels into the WPS, I believe the best approach we can take at this point to put an end to such bullying tactics is for us to double down on plans for joint patrols in the disputed waterway with the US and other allies like Japan and Australia that seem open to such a border security arrangement,” Villafuerte said. More than 200 diplomatic protests have reportedly been lodged by the Philippines against China in recent years. “That the incessant harassment of Philippine vessels in our very own territory have been increasing despite the series of  official  engagements between Beijing and Manila, ostensibly in pursuit of a peaceful resolution to this territorial dispute only illustrates that the Philippine government’s filing of diplomatic protests over and over  against such Chinese bullying is a futile approach," he noted. Villafuerte further said that China "has repeatedly made a mockery of its diplomatic talks and avowed commitments with the Philippines on pursuing a peaceful settlement of the conflict, as such formal engagements this year have only become a prelude to more, instead of less, Chinese intrusions into our territorial waters and EEZ". During Marcos’ visit to China last January, he and Chinese President Xi Jinping had agreed to address the maritime issues “through diplomacy and dialogue and never through coercion and intimidation". Marcos' stateside trip will last five days.

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Joe Biden west philipoine sea Rep. LRay Villafuerte joint patrols china
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