Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros (Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — It is “angering” to see China’s persisting and growing occupation in the West Philippine Sea, Senator Risa Hontiveros said on Friday.
Hontiveros’ remark came after photos of artificial islands in the West Philippine Sea surfaced online.
“Ilang taon na natin pinapanawagan ang paglayas nila sa ating teritoryo pero nagbibingi-bingihan pa rin ang Tsina,” she said in a statement.
(We have appealed to China to leave our territory for years, but they remain deaf.)
The senator stressed that China knew of the Philippines’ strong opposition to building artificial islands.
“The Philippines has not fallen short in making the Chinese gov’t aware of our assertion, not least by bringing the case to The Hague and securing the 2016 legal victory. Then and there, China should have halted her activities in the WPS,” she argued.
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration favored the Philippines’ claim in parts of South China Sea, invalidating Beijing’s nine-dash line.
For Hontiveros, China is “making it hard” for claimant countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to engage in a resolution of the dispute.
“Ngunit ang tigas talaga ng ulo (But they are hard-headed). China is making it hard for the Philippines and all the other claimant countries in the ASEAN to have a productive conversation and a consensual resolution of the matter.
“Siya ang may diperensya, hindi tayo, kaya siya ang mag-wasto (They have the shortcoming, not us, they should correct it),” she said.
Noting President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s vow to not “abandon even one-square inch” of the Philippines, Hontiveros is looking forward to his action on the issue.
“I expect that his administration takes definitive action on China’s arrogant contempt and disrespect for our sovereignty. Umaksyon na tayo ngayon bago pa tuluyang masakop ng gahamang dayuhan,” the opposition senator urged.
(Let us act now before we are completely conquered by the greedy foreign nation.)
Recently, the Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian expressed joy as Filipino and Chinese fishers have been fishing “peacefully” in disputed areas of the sea.
Early this month, the Philippine Coast Guard said the Filipino fishers are back in Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal.
To recall, Filipino fishers have faced challenges such as aggressive Chinese actions in the West Philippine Sea.