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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Mindanao solon up in arms over WPS water cannon incident

Mindanao solon up in arms over WPS water cannon incident

Published Aug 7, 2023 09:33 am

At A Glance

  • Cagayan de Oro City 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez says he will file a resolution to condemning the China Coast Guard's latest "harassment and bullying tactic" in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

FB_IMG_1691400051928.jpgCagayan de Oro City 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (Facebook)

 

 

 

 

 

Cagayan de Oro City 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez says he will file a resolution condemning the China Coast Guard's latest "harassment and bullying tactic” in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). 

"I will file a resolution condemning China Coast Guard for its water cannon blast against our PCG (Philippine Coast Guard) vessels escorting our supply vessels bringing provisions to our military personnel staying on board BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal," Rodriguez told reporters Monday, Aug. 7. 

The Mindanao lawmaker has been a consistent critic of China’s aggressive activities in the WPS. 

At the same time, Rodriguez has expressed support for President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s efforts to strengthen the country’s relations with its defense treaty partner and long-time ally, the United States (US), and other allies in the Asia-Pacific region. 

The US, Britain, Canada and the nation’s regional allies like Japan and Australia have issued statements condemning the use of water cannons on Philippine vessels that carried out the resupply mission last Saturday, Aug. 5. 

Rodriguez, in a subsequent statement Monday, also urged Malacañang to take “more drastic” actions in light of the water cannon attack. 

“I ask the President to downgrade our embassy in Beijing to show our deep indignation, anger and protest over the water cannon blast by the Chinese Coast Guard on our personnel,” he said.  

“The President should also order our unusually quiet and inactive ambassador there to return to Manila and to replace him with a lower-level diplomatic officer,” noted. 

Rodriguez reckoned that the administration “should now firmly address these continuous violations of our sovereignty rights over the [WPS]". 

“We cannot allow these harassment and bullying tactics and encroachment on our maritime territory to continue. We have to take more drastic actions, instead of filing the usual diplomatic protest note,” he stressed.

Related Tags

Rufus Rodriguez West Philippine Sea
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