‘China wants respect, but bullies Philippines’

MANILA, Philippines — A ranking member of the House of Representatives yesterday accused China of implementing a double standard with its “expansionist” conduct in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), demanding respect but continuing its bullying of the Philippines and other neighboring countries.

“While China wants the international community to respect their self-drawn nine-dash line and eleven-dash line, they do not respect us and continue to intrude in our declared 200-mile economic zone,” quad committee overall chairman Rep. Robert Ace Barbers observed.

The Surigao del Norte second district congressman further claimed that Beijing repeatedly “ignores the decision of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS) on the issue” which Manila won in July 2016.

In a statement, entitled “China wants respect over their WPS claims but disrespects Philippines, other Asian country-claimants in the region,” Barbers assailed China’s “expansionist” policies and its “bullying tactics by “questioning and trying to meddle over the country’s laws and policies.”

The chairman of the House committee on dangerous drugs issued the statement following protests by the Chinese government over President Marcos’ recent signing of two maritime laws – Republic Acts 12064 and 12065 – both aimed at reinforcing the country’s rights over its maritime zones.

“While China wanted us to respect their claims in the West Philippine Sea… (which) were without historical and legal basis, they continuously disrespect us on our own claims and position on the matter,” Barbers said.

He said after “videotaped incidents of bullying, using water cannons, ramming ships and causing injuries” to some Philippine Coast Guard personnel, China is now trying to object, meddle, intimidate and stop us from adopting and implementing laws and policies over our maritime zones.

“The Hague-based decision, constituted under UNCLOS, ruled that China’s claim of historic rights to resources in areas falling within its invisible demarcation (in the WPS) ‘had no basis in law and is without legal effect,’” Barbers added.

He also said the 135-member-state UNCLOS, in an arbitral ruling, has upheld the Philippine’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction in its exclusive 200-mile economic zone.

“China wanted the Philippines to respect its unfounded claims in the West Philippine Sea, but they manifestly disrespect our position on this issue and the decision of the UNCLOS on the matter,” Barbers said.

Marcos has stated that the Philippines stays firm in its position on the country’s sovereignty in the WPS, despite China’s objection to the passage of the new maritime and archipelagic sea lane laws.

Beijing said Manila should respect China’s territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interests, immediately stop taking unilateral action, and earnestly maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.