Escudero urges gov't to take up China’s aggression in West Philippine Sea before ASEAN


Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Wednesday, June 5 urged the government to consider bringing up China’s constant aggression in the West Philippine Sea before the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

 

Escudero said the government has the option to raise its concerns before any forum and make its stand be heard.

 

“Option palagi ‘yan ng ating pamahalaan pero isang concern din na nais kong i-bring up ay sana subukan kung kakayanin ng ating DFA na dalhin ito sa ASEAN. (That is always an option of our government but also a concern that I would like to bring up is to try if our DFA will be able to bring it to the ASEAN),” Escudero said.

 

“Iyan ang regional organization na kinabibilangan ng Pilipinas at hindi maikakaila ang isyung ito kaugany sa West Philippine Sea ay nagaganap sa loob na nasasakupan ng ASEAN (That is the regional organization that the Philippines belongs to and this issue cannot be denied in the West Philippine Sea takes place within the territory of ASEAN),” he said.

 

“Hindi kilalang political na asosasyon ang ASEAN subalit forum pa rin ito para mapag-usapan anumang nagaganap sa parteng ito ng ating mundo dito sa ating rehiyon (ASEAN is not a well-known political association but it is still a forum to discuss anything happening in this part of our world here in our region),” the Senate leader added.

 

Earlier, the China Coast Guard reportedly seized food and other supplies for Filipino troops stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal last May 19. 

 

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) released the video footage of the incident on Wednesday.

 

Escudero, however, hopes such action would not trigger an escalation of conflict between the two nations. 

 

“Ang aking hiling at panalangin ay manatiling mahinahon ang magkabilang panig: ang ating bansa at ang bansang Tsina anuman ang uri ng oprensibang ginagawa nila tulad ng pag-agaw (My request and prayer is that both sides, our country and China remain calm regardless of the type of offensive they are doing such as seizure.,” the senator said.

 

“Sana huwag patulan ng ating bansa dahil uulitin ko walang may gusto ng anumang uri ng digmaan na sumiklab dito sa rehiyon natin at lalong-lalo na kung ang magiging battle ground ay ating bansa hindi naman ibang lugar (I hope our country would just shrug it off because I repeat no one wants any kind of war to break out in our region and especially if the battle ground is our country and not some other place),” he said.

 

“So sana itong pag-init na ito ay humupa rin at madaan pa rin, pinapanalangin ko sa diyalogo at anumang uri ng pakikipag-usap, harapan man, mataas man o mababang lebel upang sa gayon ay magkaroon ng maski papano pagkakaunawaan sa bagay na ito at mga haharapin pa nating mga hamon sa darating na panahon (So I hope this tension subsides and can still be fixed, I pray, through dialogue and any kind of conversation, face-to-face, high or low level, so that there is at least some understanding on this matter and the challenges we will face in the future),” Escudero suggested.