DFA: Philippines may take China actions to UN assembly

MANILA, Philippines —  The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is looking at filing a resolution with the United Nations General Assembly or UNGA to address the escalating tension in the West Philippine Sea due to China’s continuous aggression.

This was revealed by Nueva Ecija Rep. Joseph Gilbert Violago, who spoke in behalf of the DFA, being its budget sponsor during yesterday’s plenary deliberation of the agency’s proposed budget in 2025.

Questioned by OFW party-list Rep. Marissa Magsino, Violago said the DFA has plans to file the resolution with the UNGA “on the Philippines’ territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea (WPS)” for various reasons.

“Firstly, the Philippines has raised the Philippines’ position in the South China Sea, West Philippine Sea, including the 2016 arbitral award, at every available opportunity in various operating international forums,” Violago noted.

In the context of the UN in New York, he underscored that the Philippines “has consistently included the award in its interventions in the meetings of the three parties on the Law of the Sea.”

But Violago maintained that the recommendation to file the resolution with UNGA would have to be subject to “necessity and prudence” so the DFA continues to study its implications

“The DFA maintains the view that the UN General Assembly is the venue for decisions on human development issues that concern the conditions faced by humanity as a whole,” he added.

Magbanua crew ready

The personnel onboard BRP Teresa Magbanua, which sailed back to port after five months of deployment at Escoda (Sabina) Shoal, will be ready for a new assignment once they receive orders from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

“Yes, we are willing. We are ready,” Lieutenant Commander Efren Duran Jr., commanding officer of PCG’s 97-meter patrol vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua, said over dwPM Radyo 630 yesterday.

Majority of the 63 crewmembers of the patrol ship have recovered after experiencing medical issues apparently brought about by dehydration and lack of nutrition, amid efforts by China Coast Guard (CCG) and other Chinese maritime forces to block their supplies since August.

Their ordeal worsened after a CCG patrol vessel hit the PCG patrol ship three times last Aug. 31, damaging the latter’s panel room, the starboard quarter and parts of the port side.

BRP Teresa Magbanua was deployed to Escoda Shoal in mid-April to deter China’s initial steps towards island reclamation in the West Philippine Sea.

National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea spokesman and PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela said other PCG patrol vessels will be deployed to replace the Teresa Magbanua, which is currently docked in an undisclosed location in Palawan.

At the Senate, Sen. Robinhood Padilla filed Senate Resolution 1202 lauding the crew for their “crucial and immeasurable contribution” in defending the West Philippine Sea from Chinese aggression.

For his part, Sen. Francis Tolentino yesterday lauded the Teresa Magbanua’s crew as he urged the PCG to maintain its presence amid a drop in the number of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea.

Tolentino is also counting on President Marcos to soon sign into law the Maritime Zones and Archipelagic Sealane bills to bolster the country’s stake in the West Philippine Sea.

During the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum yesterday, Tolentino said the two bills would enshrine into law the term West Philippine Sea.

“There will now be a recognition of the name ‘West Philippine Sea.’ For the first time, a law enshrines it, whereas before, there was only an executive order,” Tolentino said.

Once the bills are passed into law, these would be forwarded to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) “which, in turn, will vet and update their respective member-nations on these measures,” Tolentino said.

“This will strengthen international recognition in our favor,” he added.

“Step by step, we are able to integrate the principles of international law in our own laws, by defining our territorial sea, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone, sea bed and more,”  Tolentino said.

Enhanced cooperation

Army chiefs of the Philippines, United States, Japan and Australia and marine leaders agreed to enhance cooperation by conducting larger and more complex multilateral training exercises and strengthen deterrence strategies amid rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific.

United States Army Pacific Commanding General Charles Flynn met with Philippine Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, Chief of Army of the Australian Army Lt. Gen. Simon Stuart, Chief of Staff of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) Gen. Yasunori Morishita and US Marines III Marine Expeditionary Force Commander Lt. Gen. Roger Turner at the Victoria Barracks in Melbourne, Australia on Sept. 13.

The military leaders committed to regular meetings to refine and innovate joint deterrence strategies.

The Philippines will expand the annual US-Philippine Balikatan exercises to conduct a “full battle test” of their plan to defend their sovereign territory with the help of forces from across US Indo-Pacific Command.

The leaders discussed how to best begin incorporating forces from the Australian Army and Japan Ground Self Defense Force into the army-to-army portion of the joint exercise dubbed “Salaknib.”

Shoulder-to-shoulder with German Navy

Meanwhile, German Rear Admiral Axel Schulz, commander of the German Flotilla 2, Wilhelmshaven, visited the Philippine Navy headquarters on Monday and said Germany is very keen to support the training of the Philippine Navy.

Rear Adm. Renato David, commander of the Philippine Fleet, said the visit of Schulz and the German delegates is a testament to Germany’s commitment to an open Indo-Pacific.

During their meeting, the Navy officials discussed future engagements, modernization efforts and training opportunities between the Philippine and German naval forces.

“It is important to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our friends, allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region, especially with the Philippines. We are very keen to support you in terms of training. I always see that as an exchange of experience, and I’m sure that we can learn a lot from the Philippine Navy as well,” Schulz said.– Pia Lee-Brago, Ghio Ong, Marc Jayson Cayabyab