PHL disputes claim China not restricting freedom of navigation

Malacañang on Saturday belied China's claim that it was not impeding freedom of navigation in the disputed South China Sea.

 

In an interview on state-run dzRB radio, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said China's claim contradicts its actions in the disputed waters.

 

"Malinaw naman po ‘yung nasasaksihan ng daigdig na doon sa kanilang pagsasagawa ng reclamation ay inumpisahan na o kung hindi man naumpisahan ay pinaghahandaang umpisahan ang iba pang mga construction activities at ang mga aksyon na katulad ng ating tinukoy, kasama na rin ‘yung kanilang mga pahayag hinggil sa sitwasyon sa rehiyon," he said.

 

Coloma said China's reclamation and construction activities in disputed waters raises tension in the area.

 

"Kaya nga ang panawagan natin sa kanila na binanggit ni [Foreign Affairs] Secretary Albert del Rosario ay itigil ‘yung tatlong bagay: una, ‘yung reklamasyon; pangalawa, ‘yung construction project; at ikatlo, ‘yung pag-escalate ng tensyon sa ating rehiyon," he said.

 

"Dapat po ay maging komprehensibo ‘yung aksyon at ang panawagan na ‘yan na ating ipinahayag ay ‘yan po ang umaani ng suporta dahil nakikita naman na ito ay makatuwiran ng mga bansang naniniwala sa rule of law," he added.

 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi have assured the East Asia Summit on Thursday that Beijing was not impeding freedom of navigation in the contested waterway.

 

The Chinese Foreign Minister also said Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario "attacked" China's South China Sea policy, when he outlined in detail a legal case that Manila filed against Beijing at an international court in The Hague.

 

In his statement before the Permanent Court of Arbitration on July 7, Del Rosario said China had "irreversibly" damaged the regional marine environment through its "destructive and hazardous fishing practices and by its harvesting of endangered species."

 

The Philippine official's statement has received support from his Japanese counterpart, which resulted to Wang's accusing Japan and the Philippines of joining forces against China.

 

Coloma said Japan and the Philippines have long been strategic partners.

 

"Mayroon po tayong kasunduan sa kanila sa larangan ng kabuhayan, sa larangan ng seguridad, at sila po ay strategic partner nga po ng ating bansa," he said.

 

"Noong nakaraang pagdaos ng state visit ni Pangulong Aquino sa Japan ay muli silang nagpulong ni Prime Minister Shinzo Abe upang talakayin kung paano pa higit na patatatagin ang ating pagiging strategic partner sa bansang Japan, at kasama po doon ‘yung mahalagang pagtataguyod na manatiling bukas at mapayapa ang mga karagatan, kabilang na ‘yung South China Sea o West Philippine Sea," he added. —ALG, GMA News