House Spearker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Monday, August 26 urged China to pursue dialogue and consultations with Philippine authorities as a way to resolve the conflict in the West Philippine Sea and not resort to aggression or confrontation. 

Romualdez made the call as he expressed alarm over what he described as the “increasingly aggressive” actions of the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) in the WPS, especially on the recent incident involving a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel BRP Datu Sanday (MMOV 3302). 

The BFAR ship was resupplying fishermen in Hasa-Hasa Shoal, which is about 60 nautical miles from Rizal, Palawan, and Escoda Shoal, located around 110 nautical miles away also from Rizal town.

“Again, we condemn in the strongest terms this newest reckless and dangerous maneuvers by the China Coast Guard on our vessels, this time a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ship conducting a humanitarian mission by resupplying Filipino fishermen with food, medical supplies and diesel,” Romualdez said.

“This is the second time in about a week that China used its might to harass and terrorize our vessels and personnel inside our own territory,” he said, referring to the August 19 incident, when the CCG rammed two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels.

“This area is clearly within the 200-mile exclusive economic zone of the Philippines under the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea, to which China and the Philippines are signatories,” Romualdez said referring to the Hasa-Hasa Shoal and Escoda Shoal.

He noted that the two shoals are more than 1,000 miles from China.

Romualdez repeated his appeal for China to respect and follow the international law it signed, and to exercise restraint and stop all aggressive actions.

Nevertheless, he said the government under the leadership of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. will remain committed to upholding the country’s dignity, territorial integrity and sovereignty.