China, binuweltahan ang US sa isyu sa WPS

ni Ronalyn Seminiano Reonico | March 23, 2021

Bumuwelta ang Chinese Embassy, Manila sa United States kaugnay ng pagsuporta nito sa Pilipinas sa West Philippine Sea matapos mamataan ang diumano’y 220 maritime militia vessels ng China sa Julian Felipe Reef noong March 7.

Sa official Twitter account ng Chinese Embassy Manila, mababasa ang tweet ng isang news site na: “US Embassy on Chinese ships at Juan Felipe Reef (Whitsun): Chinese boats have been mooring in this area for many months in ever increasing numbers, regardless of the weather.

We stand with the Philippines, our oldest treaty ally in Asia.”

Pahayag naman ng Chinese Embassy, “The United States is not a party to the South China Sea issue. Fanning flames and provoking confrontation in the region will only serve the selfish interests of individual country and undermine the regional peace and stability.”

Saad pa ng embahada, "Both China and the Philippines are sovereign and independent countries. We have the will, wisdom and ability to properly handle relevant issues through bilateral channels.” Una nang pinabulaanan ng China na "maritime militia" ang mga naturang vessels at nanatili lamang daw ang mga barko sa reef dahil sa “rough sea condition.” Samantala, umaasa ang Malacañang na madadaan sa usapan ang isyu ng bansa sa China.

220 Chinese vessels, namataan sa WPS

ni Ronalyn Seminiano Reonico | March 21, 2021

Aabot sa 220 Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) Vessels ang namataan sa West Philippine Sea (WPS), ayon sa natanggap na ulat ng National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS). Sa ulat ng Philippine Coast Guard, ayon sa NTF-WPS, pumalaot ang mga naturang maritime militia vessels sa Julian Felipe Reef noong March 7.

Hindi naman umano involved sa fishing activities ang mga naturang vessels nang namataan ang mga ito. Saad pa ng NTF-WPS, “Despite clear weather at the time, the Chinese vessels massed at the reef showed no actual fishing activities and had their full white lights turned on during night time.”

Samantala, nabahala rin ang NTF-WPS sa insidente at saad pa ng ahensiya, “The NTF-WPS notes this circumstance as a concern due to the possible overfishing and destruction of the marine environment, as well as risks to safety of navigation.”

Binigyang diin din ng NTF-WPS na ang Julian Felipe Reef na nasa 175-nautical miles sa kanluran ng Bataraza, Palawan ay sakop ng Pilipinas.

Saad pa ng NTF-WPS, “It is within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and Continental Shelf (CS), over which the country enjoys the exclusive right to exploit or conserve any resources which encompass both living resources, such as fish, and non-living resources such as oil and natural gas.”

Siniguro naman ng NTF-WPS na babantayan nilang maigi ang sitwasyon sa WPS para sa seguridad at proteksiyon ng bansa.

Saad pa ng NTF-WPS, “The Government will continue to monitor the situation as it remains steadfast in its duty to protect Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights in the country’s maritime domain.”