Tolentino wants DFA to summon Chinese envoy over coastguard law

Senator Francis Tolentino said Sunday that the Department of Foreign Affairs should call on China Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian, as well Philippine officials in China to explain the recently passed Chinese law allowing the shooting of foreign vessels in disputed waters.

Tolentino made the remark on the eve of the effectivity of the new law, which was passed amid continued tensions over territorial disputes among China and other claimant-countries in the disputed South China Sea, including the Philippines.

In a Dobol B sa News TV interview, Tolentino said Huang should explain why the new law was swiftly passed, as he claimed that the National People's Congress of China was supposed to convene its session in March.

He said China's NPC Standing Committee, which is composed of around 160 members, worked on the new law, instead of its entire 3,000-member Congress.

"Minadali nila siguro para nakakasa na doon. Hindi ko alam yung punu't dulo nito. Kaya tama yung nag-file ng diplomatic protest si Sec. [Teddy Boy] Locsin. Pero siguro ang next step niyan, siguro i-summon, ipatawag yung Chinese ambassador," Tolentino said.

"Ipapatawag yun, pagpapaliwanagin... Ipaliwanag din [niya] yung epekto sa ating mangingisda," he added.

Aside from Huang, Tolentino said Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago Sta. Romana should also be summoned to explain why the Philippines seemed to have not been informed ahead of time about the law.

"Tanungin bakit sa tagal niyo diyan, bakit hindi niyo na-monitor ito? Bakit hindi niyo na-monitor na meron palang nakaamba. Kung sikreto man o hindi, sa pag-aaral niyo, nakaamba na batas, nang sa ganun, nung pumunta rito yung foreign minister ng China, nabuksan ito," he said.

"So may pagkukulang din siguro yung embahada natin sa Beijing. Yun yung pangalawang dapat ipatawag ng Department of Foreign Affairs," he added.

Tolentino expressed concern about the new Chinese law's impact not only on Filipino fishermen, but even commercial vessels that may come near territories being claimed by China.

He added that with the new law, China's state forces may also demolish structures being constructed on the disputed territories and create exclusion zones.

Tolentino said ASEAN member states with claims in South China Sea territories may file a joint diplomatic protest with the United Nations regarding the new Chinese law.

"Lahat ng mga affected nations, pwedeng magkaroon ng emergency meeting, pag-usapan ito informally or formally, ano ba yung pwede nating gawin," he said.

"Pwede tayong mag-file ng joint diplomatic protest sa United Nations. Dapat magtulong-tulong na ang mga apektado, hindi lang tayo," he also said, adding that the Philippines itself may initiate the filing.

Just last week, Filipino fishermen were reportedly barred by Chinese vessels from accessing the fishing grounds near Pagasa Island.

The military is already looking into the allegations of harassment of Chinese vessels on Filipino fishermen, although Western Command spokesman Colonel Stephen Penetrante said this was highly improbable and "unlikely to happen." —LBG, GMA News