Chinese envoy cautions Cebu City on West Philippine Sea event

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City's first official observance of West Philippine Sea Victory Day on Monday drew praise from the national government as a show of patriotism and support for the country's maritime rights, but also prompted a warning from China's top diplomat in Cebu that the commemoration could strain the city's long-standing ties with Beijing.

Held at Plaza Sugbo, the ceremony marked the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award, which invalidated China's nine-dash line claim and affirmed the Philippines' sovereign rights under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr., the guest of honor, described Cebu City's initiative as "a meaningful expression of patriotism and unity in upholding the country's lawful maritime rights."

He stressed that "safeguarding our seas is safeguarding our future," emphasizing that the arbitral ruling remains the Philippines' legal foundation for asserting its maritime entitlements.

Cebu City is among the first local government units to institutionalize the annual observance, a move welcomed by the national government as part of its continuing recognition of the landmark arbitral victory.

Teodoro expressed hope that other local government units would adopt similar observances, saying the initiative strengthens public awareness of the ruling and promotes the peaceful and rules-based assertion of the country's maritime rights.

Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña, who attended the event with city officials, uniformed personnel and civil society groups, delivered a more pointed message.

"Cebu is part of the Philippines, and as such, it is just but right to be involved in matters about the West Philippine Sea," he said.

Osmeña also criticized the reported harassment of Filipino fishermen by Chinese vessels and lamented the absence of Mayor Nestor Archival from the ceremony, saying the mayor was avoiding taking a public stand on the issue.

"Unfortunately our Mayor is playing it safe… He doesn't like to be here, he doesn't like to be identified. I'm not that kind. I take a stand to protect our own," Osmeña declared.

Archival had earlier attended the induction ceremony of the Philippine Che Yong Cua & Chua Family Association–Cebu Chapter, where he met with Chinese Consul General Zhang Zhen. He also joined Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro and other local officials during last month's China-Philippine Friendship Day celebration.

The mayor has declined to comment on the Cebu City Council resolution institutionalizing the annual observance and was reportedly in Manila on other official matters during yesterday’s activity.

In a media briefing, Zhang expressed concern that Cebu City's observance "may strain the good relationship between China and Cebu," describing Cebuanos as "open-minded people."

The Chinese Consulate General in Cebu later issued a statement rejecting the 2016 arbitral ruling as "illegal, null and void."

"Volume is not validity. Loud rhetoric cannot substitute for legal truth," part of the statement read, maintaining that China's sovereignty over the islands in the South China Sea is based on what it described as historic rights dating back to the Western Han Dynasty.

The Consulate further asserted that China has "continuously, peacefully and effectively exercised sovereignty and jurisdiction" over the islands and surrounding waters, and insisted that the arbitral award "is nothing but a worthless piece of paper that has no binding force."

It also argued that the ruling "has become a stumbling block to China-Philippines relations and to peace and stability in the South China Sea," warning that continued commemorations "goes against the aspirations of countries and people in the region for development and prosperity."

The statement concluded by expressing regret that "certain individuals have chosen to move in the opposite direction," while urging Cebuanos and "Filipinos of goodwill" to "see through this farcical spectacle." — (FREEMAN)