← BACK

JV Ejercito to President BBM: Hold new round of talks with China’s Xi Jinping on continuing tensions in WPS

July 07, 2023

Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. should hold another round of talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss recent incidents of harassment by Chinese Coast Guard vessels roaming the West Philippine Sea.

Ejercito said China’s inaction on the note verbales or diplomatic notes submitted by the Department of Foreign Affairs would justify the intervention of the President.

“Hundreds of note verbale have fallen on deaf ears. Siguro, panahon na Presidente na mismo ang kumausap. It’s a very unhealthy situation in the West Philippine Sea. More than anything, it’s our fishermen who are deprived of livelihood. Nakakaawa naman yung mga fishermen natin. One of the poorest sectors of society, pagkakaitan pa nila,” he said in an interview.

In late June, Chinese Coast Guard vessels conducted “dangerous maneuvers” around Philippine Coast Guard ships, preventing the latter from reaching Ayungin Shoal.

Despite China’s recent donation of 20,000 metric tons of fertilizers to the Philippines, the lawmaker from San Juan said Chinese encroachment in the West Philippine Sea raises questions about its friendly gestures.

“Hindi na ito action ng isang ally or kaibigan. They have been donating fertilizers with one hand but the other hand is harassing our Coast Guard,” he said.

Ejercito joined his colleagues in the Senate in urging the national government to raise these incidents of harassment before the United Nations and secure the support of the international community in enforcing the Philippines-China South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Ruling.

The said ruling rejected China’s “nine-dash line” claim, which covered the entirety of the South China Sea.

He also asked the national government to forge a broader defense alliance with the country’s regional neighbors to resist China’s growing aggression.

“Dapat dalhin na ito sa United Nations para maenforce na yung Hague Ruling because the West Philippine Sea is really ours. We have to exhaust all diplomatic means. Obviously we are not a superpower. Di naman natin sila kayang tapatan in terms of military strength and military might. Hindi talaga natin kaya. But it’s about time we bring this up with the United Nations and strengthen our alliances in the Asia-Pacific and Indo-Pacific area,” he said.

“We have to forge an alliance with right-thinking nations so that the freedom of navigation will prevail in the West Philippine Sea area,” he added.

#

Stay Ahead with JV Ejercito: Get the Latest Updates,
Insights, and News


    ×

    Stay in touch

    Subscribe with JV Ejercito’s Newsletter: Get the Latest Updates, Insights, and News

      Full Name

      Email

      Mobile Number (Optional)