JV Ejercito: Right-thinking nations must unite to maintain freedom of navigation

Countries that have territorial disputes with China and “right-thinking” nations allied with the Philippines must unite to maintain freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region, Senator JV Ejercito said Friday.

“There’s strength in numbers e. Admittedly, ‘di natin kaya ang Tsina. We will always be bullied. Maliit na bansa tayo. They are a superpower at siguro, malaking tyansa natin if we… forge an alliance with other countries,” said Ejercito, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,  in reaction to the 10-dash line map recently published by China

“’Yung mga right-thinking nations—‘yung United States, Japan, Australia and South Korea, tapos ‘yung may mga dispute Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and now, India-- dapat siguro magbuklod-buklod ang mga bansang ito para mapanatili ang freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific area,” he added.

Like Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros, Ejercito called China “delusional” and he believed that China’s latest move was a form of intimidation.

“Ano na lang ito ng Tsina, intimidation and iba na, talagang very aggressive na sila in this area of the South China Sea, West Philippine Sea, Indo-Pacific area, even India pumalag na don sa 10-dash line,” he said.

“Medyo delusional na. It’s not only the Philippines that will be affected. All other countries as well no ay apektado po dito,” he added.

Diplomacy

Meanwhile, Senator Imee Marcos, chairperson of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, believed that diplomacy was still the first line of defense amid China’s expanded claim.

“Unfortunately, kahit mainit na ulo natin, pikon na pikon na tayo sa pang-aapi sa ating mangingisda, sa ating Coast Guard, talaga ang tanging first line of defense talaga ay diplomasya,” Marcos, the older sister of the president, said in an ambush interview.

“Tiis-tiis pa rin, wala tayong magawa. Anumang pangungusap at pangungulit at pagda-dialogue e mas mainam pa rin kesa sa giyera,” she added.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday said that the Philippines would respond to China’s publication of its new official standard map showing extended claims in the South China Sea.

Marcos did not specify how the Philippine government would act on this recent move by the Asian superpower.

The Philippines, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, rejected Beijing's publication of a new map that places nearly the entire South China Sea within its national boundaries.

Nine dashes in the new Chinese map are in the South China Sea and a tenth dash has been placed near Taiwan, purportedly to signify that territory's status as a Chinese province.

China rejected protests over its new map, saying its publication is an exercise of its sovereignty.

"We hope relevant sides can stay objective and calm, and refrain from over-interpreting the issue," Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said in Beijing.

"It is a routine practice in China’s exercise of sovereignty in accordance with the law," Wang said.

China claims the South China Sea nearly in its entirety, but the tribunal in The Hague invalidated this claim on July 12, 2016 following a case filed by the Philippines in 2013.

Beijing has ignored and belittled the ruling, insisting it had an "indisputable" and "historical" claim over nearly the entire waters even as it encroaches on the territories of its smaller neighbors like the Philippines. — DVM, GMA Integrated News