‘Stop intrusions at sea to avoid miscalculations’

MANILA, Philippines — Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez yesterday urged China to stop its intrusion in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and the 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines to show sincerity that Beijing really wanted to avoid “miscalculations” with the United States.

In a statement, Rodriguez also welcomed the assurance given by US State Secretary Antony Blinken about US’ defense obligations to the Philippines in case hostilities erupt in the WPS.

“We thank the US for the assurance, which is a reiteration of the commitment made by (US) President Joe Biden to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during their highly successful trilateral summit together with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Washington, DC last April 11,” Rodriguez said.

In a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and his counterpart Wang Yi, Blinken said that he “made clear that while the US will continue to de-escalate tensions, our defense commitments to the Philippines remain ironclad.”

Blinken added that he raised Beijing’s statement in such meetings as “dangerous actions in the South China Sea,” which includes the WPS.

Reports showed the US and China agreed to “avoid miscalculations” by continuing their dialogue on issues of conflict, including those involving the South China Sea.

Rodriguez noted that China should prove that it is true to its word by stopping its frequent intrusions into the WPS and the Philippines’ EEZ.

“That is the only way Beijing can avoid miscalculation with the US, which is treaty-obligated to defend the Philippines. That also means that China will have to give up the sea features inside the Philippines’ EEZ that it has occupied, one of two of which Beijing has militarized,” he added.

According to the lawmaker, China should leave Scarborough Shoal, known as Bajo de Masinloc to Zambales and Pangasinan fishermen, which it “seized” in 2012, and stop harassing resupply missions to BRP Sierra Madre, the Philippine military outpost in Ayungin Shoal off Palawan.

“There is no doubt that these are within our EEZ under the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Seas. Why China continues to claim them defies logic,” Rodriguez said.