Maritime expert: PH should cancel China deals over WPS aggression

Maritime law expert Professor Jay Batongbacal advised the Philippines to push back against the recent harassment by Chinese forces in the West Philippine Sea by canceling oil exploration deals and ongoing negotiations with China.

“'Yung service contract, alam naman natin next year susubukin uli ng Pilipinas na magpatuloy sa isa pang service contract doon sa Reed Bank. Eh 'pag pinigilan nila 'yon at nagkaroon ng ganyang mga klaseng hakbang, dapat siguro hindi na natin papayagan na makikipag-deal sila sa atin sa isyu ng petroleum exploration,” Batongbacal said.

(With regards to the service contract, next year the Philippines will try to continue with another service contract in Reed Bank and if (China) prevents us from doing that, perhaps we should no longer allow them to deal with us in the issue of petroleum exploration.)

In a Balitanghali interview on Wednesday, Batongbacal said that while the said countermeasures may have a negative impact on the Philippine economy, it is a viable option against further abuse and disrespect that puts Filipino lives in danger.

“'Yung ganyang klaseng behavior, siyempre laging nagtatanong ang taong bayan, ano ba puwede nating gawin sa China? Well in fact isa po ito doon sa puwedeng gawin. Puwede po 'yang gawin ng isang bansa kung nakita niya na parang inaabuso siya ng ibang bansa,” the expert said.

(With that kind of behavior, our countrymen will naturally ask what can we do to China? Well in fact this is one option. One country can do this if that country feels it is being abused by another.)

Batongbacal said the Philippines is in a position to retaliate as China is “out of line.”

“At least, 'yung 'pag ginawa natin 'yan, mapapakita natin na una, para sa taong bayan, meron tayong puwedeng gawin, at pangalawa, kahit papaano magkakaroon din ng problema ang Tsina doon kasi siyempre inaasahan nila 'yung mga kontrata na 'yun para pagkakitaan tayo. So, kung i-deny natin 'yun, eh 'di ok lang,” he added.

(If we do that, we can show that first, for our countrymen, we can take action and second, in a way China will have a problem because they are expecting these contracts to make profits from us. So if we deny them that, it’s okay.)

Batongbacal also believes the Philippine government should begin building infrastructures in the areas it occupies in response to Chinese reclamation activities and development of installations at Mischief Reef, a breach of earlier agreements between both countries to halt construction.

“Kung sila nag-i-improve ng facilities nila, 'di tayo dapat hindi tayo matakot na i-improve din 'yung ating mga facilities sa mga isla na hawak natin. Hindi nila puwedeng ibalik sa atin 'yun na may commitment tayo na huwag gumawa ng bago, habang sila ay gawa nang gawa at nagpapalaki pa nga ng kanilang mga isla,” he said.

 (If [China] has been improving their facilities, we ourselves should not be afraid to improve our own facilities in the islands that we occupy. They cannot question the Philippines regarding our commitment not to undertake new construction while they continue to build and enlarge their own structures.) 

On responding to China’s acts of aggression in the West Philippine Sea, Batongbacal advised the Philippines to de-escalate the situation.

“Sangayon din naman ako na hindi muna kumbaga masyadong i-escalate. Ika nga, 'yung situation by saying na these are already acts of war 'no. Pero malinaw, malinaw na hostile activities ito at malinaw daw na dangerous,” he said.

(I agree that we do not escalate [the situation] and not call what is happening as already acts of war. But it is very clear these activities are hostile and dangerous.) 

“In a way, [by doing all these actions], napapakita natin talaga na kahit anong sabihin ng China eh kaya pa rin niyang makapinsala, makapatay, makapagpa-lubog ng barko natin. Parang ni-reveal natin 'yan na talagang ang China hindi dapat ito pagkatiwalaan at 'yung ating hakbang towards (sa West) Philippine Sea ay hindi rin dapat parang iasa lang na baka walang mangyari, so sana walang mangyari,” he added.

(In a way, we can show that whatever China says, it can still harm, kill and sink our vessels. We have revealed that China cannot be trusted and that our steps towards WPS should not be based on wishful thinking.) —RF, GMA Integrated News