Senators denounce latest bullying of China Coast Guard in WPS
Two senators on Tuesday, March 5 denounced the latest harassment of a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel during a resupply mission of the BRP Sindangan to the grounded BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.
“I stand in solidarity with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in urging China to stop harassing our vessels en route to the resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea,” Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada said in a statement.
Estrada noted the numerous times such collisions between the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and CCG, along with some Chinese militia vessels, have happened within the area.
“Malinaw ang mga bullying tactics nila sa ating mga sasakyang pandagat at sa mga pagkakataong ito, kailanman ay hindi tayo naging banta sa kanilang seguridad (Their bullying tactics on our vessels are clear and in these instances, we have never been a threat to their security),” Estrada pointed out.
Estrada emphasized the resupply missions conducted by the PCG are insufficient reason for the CCG to take such action that would endanger their safety of the country’s coast guards.
“I call on China to respect international maritime laws, adhere to established norms, and cease bullying tactics. Such provocative actions are unacceptable,” he stressed.
“As a nation, we remain committed to safeguarding our territorial integrity and protecting the rights of our seafarers. We call on the international community to closely monitor regional developments and support efforts to maintain a rules-based order,” the senator added.
Sen. Grace Poe also slammed the “unlawful and dangerous” actions by the CCG, recalling the water cannon attack they launched on one of the PCG’s ship that was also on a peaceful resupply mission.
“The water cannon attack against our ship on a peaceful resupply mission is deplorable and must stop.
We stand firm that resupply missions voyaging along Philippine territory are legal and must not be disrupted by intruders,” Poe said in a separate statement.
“We support the rules-based order in the South China Sea consistent with international laws. But we must not let pass these harassments and attacks against our Coast Guard and our people,” she said.