MANILA, Philippines — Since China has not stopped its bullying in the West Philippine Sea, former foreign affairs chief Albert del Rosario said the Philippines needs to drum up international support to compel Beijing to comply with an arbitral court ruling on the South China Sea as well as “bring to fore” its threat of force to assert its maritime claim.
“We need to seek the support of the UN General Assembly in compelling Beijing to abide by the arbitral tribunal ruling,” Del Rosario said. “At the UN and at other multilateral fora, we also need to bring to the fore China’s threat of force.
“We are obviously no match for this Goliath who intends to have us for breakfast, lunch and dinner,” he said yesterday.
For three years, he said the Philippines has kowtowed to China’s tack of resolving disputes through bilateral means, “resulting in our being bullied, harassed and intimidated.”
On Tuesday, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana accused China of “bullying” in the South China Sea as it continues to occupy islands within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
He criticized China for failing to match its verbal commitment to peace with actions.
“To seek help, we must show that we are willing to be helped,” Del Rosario said.
In July 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration based in The Hague ruled in favor of a case filed by Manila contesting China’s massive claim in the South China.
In its ruling, the arbitral court invalidated China’s nine-dash line claim and reaffirmed the Philippines’ maritime entitlements. Beijing vowed not to comply with the order. President Duterte himself said he would rather set aside the arbitral ruling to preserve the country’s friendship with China and keep the Asian giant from making hostile moves.
The filing of the case in 2013 by the previous Aquino administration was supposedly prompted by Chinese refusal to leave Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal even after agreeing to a US-brokered “face saving” deal to leave the shoal simultaneously with the Philippine Navy following a standoff.
The standoff began when the crew of a Philippine Navy vessel tried to accost Chinese poachers leaving the shoal with their illegal harvest of giant clams, baby sharks and endangered corals.
Chinese maritime surveillance ships emerged and prevented the Philippine Navy from making the arrest. The poachers managed to slip out of the area with their illegal catch.
Aside from deploying warships and militia vessels in the South China Sea and West Philippine Sea, the Chinese had also constructed and fortified artificial islands in waters within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
More actions needed
Meanwhile, former president Benigno Aquino III said that while filing diplomatic protests is good, the Duterte administration should take more steps to make sure the Philippines will be free to make moves meant to advance or protect national interest amid the maritime spat with China.
In an interview with reporters at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City yesterday, Aquino said that China has a history of exerting economic pressure on countries it is not fond of.
Aquino said those in government should make sure this will not happen to the Philippines.
“You have to think, our freedom to move towards the interest of the Philippines may be lessened if we are always threatened to be punished economically,” Aquino said in Filipino.
“Hopefully, those in position can have the freedom to do what is right,” he added.
He lauded the decision of the government to file a diplomatic protest against China over the latter’s hostile activities in Sibutu Strait and Pag-asa Island.
“(Associate Justice Antonio) Carpio said that if we keep quiet, we are enduring a lot. Us filing a protest is a record that we are not in favor of what they are doing,” Aquino said.
“So, that is a good first step, but it is important to follow that up. Hopefully, there will be more steps,” he added.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. bared on Wednesday that the Philippines “fired off” a diplomatic protest against China in response to reports that 113 Chinese vessels had circled Pag-asa Island.
The protest was the second since June following the sinking by a Chinese vessel of a Filipino fishing boat near Recto Bank. The incident sparked outrage in the Philippines after the 22 Filipino crew of the F/B Gemver reported being left floundering in the water by the Chinese.