Manila: The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday demanded that China immediately cease its illegal occupation of Mischief Reef and Subi Reef. This move asserts the Philippines' sovereign rights and jurisdiction over these maritime features.
According to Philippines News Agency, Foreign Affairs spokesperson for Maritime Affairs Rogelio Villanueva Jr. emphasized that the low-tide elevations, located within the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf, cannot be subjected to any sovereignty claim. Villanueva stated that China's island-building activities on these features violate the Philippine Maritime Zones Act (Republic Act 12064) and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as confirmed by the 2016 Arbitral Award, which does not alter the legal status of these features as low-tide elevations.
Villanueva further urged China to cease its illegal occupation and activities in Panganiban Reef and Zamora Reef immediately, and to adhere to the final and binding 2016 Arbitral Award. He affirmed that the DFA will continue to assert the Philippines' sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), and will advocate for the country's legitimate rights and interests in the maritime domain.
This statement follows an incident where the Philippine Coast Guard reported that China launched flares at an unarmed Filipino aircraft conducting a routine maritime domain awareness flight over the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) earlier this week. Villanueva mentioned that the DFA reserves the right to take appropriate diplomatic action upon receiving an official report from relevant security agencies.
On the broader issue concerning the West Philippine Sea, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. assured that the Department of National Defense will persist in asserting the Philippines' rights within its maritime zones under international law. In an interview with ANC, he questioned why the Philippines should exercise more caution when it is only upholding UNCLOS and international law, and protecting its maritime rights and territory. Teodoro stated that it is China that exhibits bad behavior.
The Defense Secretary's comments were made in response to questions about how the Philippines plans to translate rhetoric into action against a superpower like China without escalating tensions into conflict.
