More lawmakers want Chinese envoy sent home

More lawmakers have supported the recall of Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian following the latest attacks against Filipino vessels in the West Philippine Sea over the weekend.

In an ambush interview on Monday, Senator JV Ejercito backed the call of Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to send the Chinese envoy back to Beijing.

“Ang message ko kay ambassador… Umuwi ka na. Hindi ka mabuti sa atin,” said Ejercito, who also relayed his message in Mandarin.

(My message to the ambassador… Go home. You are not doing any good for us.”
 

“I agree with Senate President Migz Zubiri, ‘di dahil gusto natin na signal ito na giyera kaya lang sa tingin ko ‘yung Chinese Ambassador dito has been very hostile. Dapat nga siya ang maging diplomatic line… to ease the tension because of the current circumstances kaya lang ang nangyayari siya pa ang nagbubuhos ng gasolina,” he noted.


(I agree with Senate President Migz Zubiri, not because we want to signal hostilities but in my estimation the Chinese Ambassador in this case has been very hostile. He should be the one providing the diplomatic line… to ease the tension because of the current circumstances but what’s happening is he’s the one fanning the fire.)

Ejercito mentioned the account of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner where the general shared how the Chinese ambassador confronted him in one event and was told to “stop provoking (China).”

Senator Nancy Binay likewise joined the call of the Senate president and noted the previous actions of the Chinese diplomat.

“Siyempre sa akin siguro mas sinusuportahan ko ‘yung posisyon ni Senate President Zubiri. Alam naman natin na parang namumuro na talaga yung ambassador ng China lalong-lalo na sa Senado,” she said.

(Of course, I will support the position of Senate President Zubiri. We all know how the ambassador from China has been really piling it on, especially to us in the Senate.)  

“So baka mas maganda siguro pwede silang magpadala ng mas maayos, ‘yung mas madaling kausapin,” she added.
 

(Perhaps it would be better if [China] sends someone who is more proper, someone who is easier to talk to.)
 

Apart from Zubiri’s call, Senate foreign relations vice chairman Francis Tolentino called for the recall of the Philippine Ambassador to China.

“Our nation cannot afford to maintain diplomatic complacency when our citizens are subjected to harassment and intimidation [in] our Exclusive Economic Zone,” Tolentino said in a statement.

Replace Huang

House Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo of ACT-CIS party-list echoed the call of Ejercito, saying that China’s ambassador to the Philippines is not performing his role adequately.

“We strongly condemn iyong ginawa nila kasi paulit ulit na lang eh. If you are going to ask me, I am one with my fellow lawmaker. Pauwiin na lang iyong ambassador nila (China). Inutil [eh]. Tapos i-recall rin iyong ambassador natin. Kasi iyon ang mataas taas na protesta, instead of diplomatic protests, note verbale, hindi na umuubra eh,” Tulfo said.


(We strongly condemn their repetitive actions… Just send the Chinese ambassador home. He’s useless. And let’s also recall our ambassador. That is a higher form of protest, instead of diplomatic protest, note verbale, it’s not longer effective.)


“Pinakamagandang gawin natin ay pauwiin natin iyong ambassador ng China at para hindi siya maipit, pauwiin rin natin iyong ambassador natin para quits. We have to show that we mean business. Tapos na ang diplomasya diplomasya,” Tulfo added.

Prior to Sunday’s incident where Chinese ships fired water cannons at Philippine vessels on a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal,  the House has condemned China for the following incidents of aggression against the Philippines in 2023:

· The use of military-grade laser lights at a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel last February

· Employing water cannons at Philippine resupply ships last August

· The blocking of a routine resupply mission which led to a collision between a Chinese Coast Guard Ship (CCG) and a contracted Filipino resupply boat last October

The July 2016 Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling upheld the Philippines’ 200 nautical miles off its territorial sea as Manila’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Likewise, the same ruling junked China’s expansive claim over the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea and instead declared Panganiban (Mischief) Reef, Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal and Recto (Reed) Bank as located within the Philippines' EEZ.


Tulfo pushed for the Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force fighter aircraft purchased from South Korea should be deployed to the West Philippine Sea for patrolling to deter escalating Chinese aggression in the area.


“A lot of our fellow Filipinos are angry. Where are those fighter jets that we got from South Korea? Do we let them gather rust? What is the purpose of such purchase? To defend our skies from foreign aggression. Why can't we use it for patrolling (the) West Philippine Sea?,” Tulfo stressed.
 

“I also suggest moving all of our Navy [personnel] because the area is vast, then we deploy (the) coast guard in areas where there are [probable terrorist or insurgents,” Tulfo added.

Tulfo said that while China offers the biggest market in the world, it has a lot to lose if the Philippines decides to sever its ties with the most populous nation in the world.


“They also have a lot to lose as they have a lot of businesses and investments here in the Philippines, including that with the NGCP (National Grid Corporation of the Philippines.) They also have a lot of infrastructure programs here which we are yet to pay for,” Tulfo said.


“But then again, kung ganito naman kabastos, kabalasubas, harap-harapan na kabastusan na ‘yan, we do have to act,” Tulfo added.
 

(If they are this rude and shameless, in such an obvious fashion, we do have to act.)


Tulfo then underscored that such a hardline stance is not about picking fights but showing that we are not pushovers in terms of defending our sovereign rights.

“We are not asking for war. But we will not back down, We have our forces there, no matter how little we are. We are not afraid. Hindi tayo matitinag,” Tulfo added.


(We will not be cowed.)


Water for water


Meanwhile, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who lamented the lack of choice in addressing China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea, suggested equipping the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) with powerful water cannons similar to what their Chinese counterparts are using.
 

“Dapat ang PCG armed din ng powerful water cannons. Tubig sa tubig. Ginagawa naman ng China is ganon. Commensurate response lang sa kanilang aggression. Kung nile-laser tayo, equip PCG with laser panlaban. I’m just being practical…Di forever ganito parang daga na umiiwas sa pusa,” Dela Rosa said.

(The PCG should also be armed with powerful water cannons. Water for water. Just what China is doing… If they are aiming lasers at us, equip PCG with lasers so we can retaliate… It can’t be like this forever where we are like a mouse hiding from a cat.)
 

The former police general advised troops guarding the WPS to practice maximum patience and maximum tolerance.
 

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros also slammed China’s repeated aggressions against Filipinos in the WPS.
 

“Nakakasawa talaga ang Tsina. Parang ginagawa na nilang protocol ang aggressive actions. Mas malalim sa sawa natin ang intensyon na wag isuko ang West Philippine Sea, Exclusive Economic Zone, at buong maritime zone ng Pilipinas,” she said in a separate interview.
 

(We are fed up with China. It’s like aggressive actions are part of protocol. But our intention of not surrendering the West Philippine Sea, Exclusive Economic Zone and the entire maritime zone of the Philippines is far deeper than being fed up.)


On Sunday morning, the China Coast Guard harassed Philippine vessels on a routine resupply and rotation mission to the BRP Sierra Madre stationed at the Ayungin Shoal.


Incessant use of water cannons damaged M/L Kalayaan’s engines and BRP Cabra’s mast while endangering the lives of their crews.


On Saturday, the CCG also fired a water cannon at Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessels sailing for the Scarborough Shoal to distribute oil and other supplies to fisherfolk in the area.—RF, GMA Integrated News