House Deputy Minority Leader Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima has called out China for its continued "hostile acts" in and out of the country, which have placed Filipinos' livelihood--and actual people's lives--at risk.

"Yes, China is going too far with its illegal activities that affect the lives and livelihoods of Filipinos," De Lima said.

According to her, China has shown that it has "no qualms about their persistent hostile acts—the damage it inflicts on our vessels, the harm to our fishermen, soldiers, and government personnel, the livelihood they are depriving us of, and the many lives being put at risk".

The former senator was referring to local dredging activities linked to China and its long-standing and recurring incursions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

De Lima believes that China "is benefiting from black sand mining under the guise of dredging in our country". Black sand or magnetite is one of the main iron ores used to make steel, making it invaluable for purposes of construction.

"Isa ito sa dapat nating alamin at tutukan dahil bukod sa pagguho ng lupa, paghina ng huli ng ating mga mangingisda, sanhi rin ito ng malawakang pagbaha (This is one of the things we need to understand and focus on because aside from soil erosion and the decline in our fishermen’s catch, it also causes widespread flooding)," she said.

"We have already filed a measure in Congress to investigate this alleged illegal black sand mining, which has detrimental effects on the environment, health and livelihoods of our countrymen," she added.

De Lima had earlier filed in the current 20th Congress House Bill (HB) No.1843, also known as the proposed Anti-Black Sand Mining Act.

A member of the so-called WPS Bloc in the House of Representatives, De Lima and her colleagues recently slammed the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG), the People’s Liberation Army Navy, and their maritime militia over their latest acts of intimidation at Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) and Escoda Shoal in the WPS.

The ML Party-list solon said the current administration must say more and do more when it comes to opposing China’s actions.

"Let me reiterate our call: The government should be more aggressive in protecting our environment, sovereign rights, and territorial integrity – paramount and legitimate interests of our people. Ang atin ay atin, walang ibang may karapatang umangkin at sirain (What's ours is ours alone, nobody has the right to claim or destroy it)."

"Dapat mas pumalag pa tayo, mas manindigan pa tayo (We must show stronger opposition and make a stronger stand). We must assert our rights for the people, with the people. We don’t want China’s continued harassments, bullying, and baseless territorial claims to persist in future administrations and generations," De Lima further said.

She suggested that the government must explore other avenues to call out China and gain more support from the international community in respecting Filipinos' rights in the WPS.

"Hindi pwedeng hanggang diplomatic protests na lang (We cannot rely solely on diplomatic protests alone)," she pointed out.

"We in the WPS Bloc and other fellow House solons, have filed a measure urging the government to raise the escalating tensions in the WPS before the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

"We have also been calling on the government to file another arbitral case against China before an appropriate international tribunal. Pero waley pa rin (But still no action). Why, oh why?" De Lima said.