Palace: Filing protest over China ships up to DFA

MANILA, Philippines — It’s up to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to officially protest the presence of about 120 Chinese vessels particularly on the side of Tizard Bank that is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the Spratlys Islands, Malacañang said yesterday.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said he does not have information to confirm a report released by US-based Simularity dated April 28 showing approximately 11 ships in Julian Felipe Reef, 158 ships near McKennan (Hughes) Reef and 87 ships near Burgos (Gaven) Reef.

He said he has no idea how the National Task Force on West Philippine Sea is handling the matter. He noted that Burgos Reef is supposed to be occupied by China which reportedly uses an artificial island in the area as a military base. He presented aerial photos of the land features at a press briefing.

He said there is a need to determine if China may have overstepped its boundaries in Pag-Asa Island, over which the Philippines exercises sovereign rights.

He said what’s important is there is no disruption in the delivery of supplies to Pag-Asa and no Filipino fishermen are being prevented from dropping their nets in areas within the country’s EEZ.

“And it’s up to the DFA to determine if reports (on Chinese encroachment) are true, and if they’re true, it would be the DFA’s decision to file diplomatic protest or not,” Roque added.

Meanwhile, Sen. Risa Hontiveros has maintained that allowing foreigners full ownership of public utilities as part of the amendments to the Public Service Act (PSA) will make way for China to own crucial infrastructure in the Philippines.

Hontiveros warned China may use this as leverage against the Philippines when it comes to disputes in the West Philippine Sea.

“China is not stopping its advance in the West Philippine Sea, and we’re even giving it a way to buy infrastructure right inside our country? Our natural resources are being taken away from our seas, let us not let our own industry on land get under China’s rule. What will be left of the Philippines? ” Hontiveros said.

In the proposed amendments to the PSA, Hontiveros said the sectors to be opened up to 100 percent foreign ownership include telecommunications and transportation.

Hontiveros, who voted No to the approval of China-owned Dito Telco’s franchise, has stated that improving services in the country should not come at the expense of national security.

“We have vital national security interests that should never be compromised. At a time when our fishermen are still being expelled from our territories, how can we ensure that China will not also expel Filipino workers from industries it wants to control? We should heighten restrictions on foreign ownership as China’s encroachment in the WPS escalates, not make it easier for her to establish a stronghold in our land,” Hontiveros said.

The senator also said there are still unresolved national security concerns over existing public utilities in which China has a 40 percent stake, such as the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) and Dito Telecommunity.

In 2019, Hontiveros filed Senate Resolution No. 223 calling for an investigation and national security audit of the operations and facilities of the NGCP. That same year, the senator also filed Senate Resolution 137 seeking an investigation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) deal with Dito, which allows the telco to build facilities right within AFP’s camps and stations.

“If we open up our transport sector, for example, will this mean the so-called Chinese maritime militia can apply for licenses or permits to operate in our waters? We are all for economic development, but never at the expense of our national dignity and sovereignty,” Hontiveros pointed out. — Cecille Suerte Felipe