Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILABULLETIN)

Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers is not one to bite his tongue when it comes to responding to China's "bullying tactics" in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

In a statement Sunday, Nov. 17,  Barbers called out China for unabashedly questioning and attempting to meddle with the country’s laws and policies intended to reinforce Philippine rights over the country’s maritime zones. 

Barbers says that while China is demanding respect for their claims in the WPS--a claim that has no historical and legal basis--they continuously disrespect us on our own claims and position on the matter. 

The quad-committee overall chairman issued the statement after China summoned the Philippine ambassador to explain the two recently enacted maritime laws--Republic Act (RA) No.12064 and RA No.12065--both aimed at reinforcing the country’s rights over its maritime zones.

"While China wanted the international community to respect their self- drawn out nine-dash-line and eleven-dash line, they do not respect us and continue to intrude in our declared 200-mile [exclusive] economic zone (EEZ) and ignores the decision of United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS) on the issue,” he said. 

“The Hague-based decision, constituted under UNCLOS, ruled that China’s claim of historic rights to resources in areas falling within its invisible demarcation (in the West Philippine Sea) ‘had no basis in law and is without legal effect’,” added the Mindanaoan. 

Barbers was referring to the Permanent Court of Arbitration's (PCA) July 2016 ruling, wherein it upheld the Philippine’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction in its exclusive 200-nautical mile EEZ.

“China wanted the Philippines to respect its unfounded claims in the West Philippine Sea but they manifestly disrespect[ed] our position on this issue and the decision of the UNCLOS on the matter,” Barbers said. 

President Marcos has stated that the Philippines stays firm in its position on the country’s sovereignty in the WPS despite China’s objection to the passage of the new maritime and archipelagic sealane laws.

Beijing said Manila should respect China’s territorial sovereignty, maritime rights, and interests. It said te Philippines should limmediately stop taking unilateral actions, and earnestly maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.

"Gusto ng China ng respeto sa claim nila sa WPS pero di nila tayo nirerespeto sa ating claim at position sa isyung ito,” Barbers said. 

(China wants us to respect their claim in the WPS but they don't respect our claim and position on this issue.)

Pointing to the PCA ruling, Barbers said: “Ang China ay walang historical rights at walang legal basis ang claim nila sa WPS. So, ibig sabihin, gawa-gawa lang o produkto lang ng kanilang imahinasyon ang kanilang claim."

(China has no historical rights and no legal basis on its WPS claims. So that means their claim is just a figment of their imagination.)