Lawmaker hits China’s ‘delusional’ claim to West PH Sea

PHILIPPINE TERRITORY –  In this June 2022 photo, a Philippine Navy member displays a Philippine flag during a visit to Sandy Cay, a sandbar just 7.4 kilometers (4 nautical miles) from Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea. A number of Chinese naval ships were in the vicinity during the Navy’s visit.  (INQUIRER / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ)

MANILA, Philippines — China’s claims to the West Philippine Sea is “delusional,” said ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro on Sunday. 

“China is again spewing lies to counter the international backlash it is now under due to the exposure of its aggressive and dangerous actions in the West Philippine Sea,” said Castro in a statement. 

“Yet again, China is using its delusional claims to Ayungin Shoal and Panatag Shoal, when no country in the world recognizes its claim on these areas which are well within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines. No stretch of the imagination can change that,”she added.

According to Castro, the mere fact that there are multiple claimants to the disputed waters in the South China Sea (Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam) already debunked China’s statement that their claim to the sea is indisputable.

“While we believe that the US and other Western powers should not interfere in the South China Sea issue to foster more tension in the area. Claimant countries can band together and assert their claim as a block against China. We do not need bullies to fight another bully. What we need is international cooperation with like minded countries,” she said. 

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