Zubiri sees more protests over China’s 10-dash line map: ‘We won’t be alone this time’

A China Coast Guard vessel patrols at the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea in this file photo taken in 2017. (REUTERS)

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said China’s new standard map featuring a U-shaped 10-dash-line will trigger more protests that will speed up the creation and completing of a code of conduct in the disputed South China Sea. 

China, in its newly-released standard map, asserted its claim to a vast area of the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, which sits within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone. 

China likewise claimed that its territory extends through Taiwan and India’s northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh and the Aksai Chin region.

“May kasabihan. Misery loves company. Dumami na ang miserable ngayon sa buong mundo, hindi lang ang Pilipinas, sinakop na nila ang India. Nakakagulat po ‘yan, but then again, I think it will solidify support for the arbitral ruling where in [China’s claim] was quashed o hindi ni-recognize ng Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA),” said Zubiri in a press conference on Thursday. 

(There’s a saying — misery loves company. Misery has become widespread, not only in the Philippines; they have encroached on India. That’s surprising, but I think it will solidify support for the arbitral ruling where  [China’s claim] was quashed or not recognized by the PCA.)

He added that through this, the Philippines will be able to get more support in refuting China’s assertion. 

In 2016, the PCA in The Hague, Netherlands, ruled in favor of the Philippines, deciding that the country has exclusive sovereign rights to the West Philippine Sea.

“I think this way, we will be able to galvanize more support from other countries. I think more [nations] will support the Philippines’ stand to condemn and appeal to China not to follow that ridiculous 10-dash line because it violates the sovereignty of not only the Philippines but several countries all around the region,” said Zubiri.

“We will not be alone this time,” he added. 

Zubiri said completing the code of conduct between Asean countries is “very slow” because there are also countries in the Asean region that are “relatively close” to China. 

“But now, with this new 10-dash line, I feel that the code of conduct between Asean countries will be accelerated because of this more brazen occupation of several countries and more brazen disrespect for these countries’ sovereignty,” Zubiri pointed out. 

Meanwhile, the Philippines, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, has filed a diplomatic protest against China’s 10-dash line claim. DFA, however, did not provide any details about this protest. 

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