Allies needed to help secure West Philippine Sea claims –Hontiveros

The Philippines should reach out to other countries to protect its legal claims in the West Philippine Sea instead of cowering before China, opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros said.

Hontiveros was responding to the comments made by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana downplaying China’s passage of a coast guard law that allows its patrols to use force against foreign vessels in the South China Sea which China claims in its entirety.

Moreover, Hontiveros took offense over Lorenzana’s position that the Philippines cannot afford to antagonize China.

“Dapat makipagtulungan na tayo sa mga karatig bansa. We must show other countries in the region, particularly our allies, that we are willing to work with them, and that we will not withdraw in the face of aggression,” Hontiveros said.

“With all due respect, Secretary Lorenzana, now is the time for firmness. China's aggressiveness in the West Philippine Sea, and not our joint exercises with our allies and other friendly nations, is the real threat to peace and stability in the region,” Hontiveros added.

Cowering before China, Hontiveros said, threatens the country’s interests.

“Why are we so considerate about antagonizing China when China seems intent on antagonizing us every day?” Hontiveros asked.

In July 2016, the Philippines scored an unprecedented legal victory before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague where the court upheld the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea and rejected China’s expansive nine-dash claim claiming the entire area.

The same ruling also declared that the Spratly Islands, Panganiban (Mischief) Reef, Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, and Recto (Reed) Bank are all within the Philippines' EEZ and that the Panatag Shoal is a common fishing ground.

Despite this legal anchorage, Lorenzana’s comments have been echoed by President Rodrigo Duterte by saying that he cannot be brave in the mouth against China because he is trying to avoid a confrontation that the country cannot afford.

But Hontiveros said such an apparent defeatist stance only helps China, not the Philippines.

“We also cannot stand up to China alone. But how are we going to work together with our allies when we don't even want to be seen with them when China is looking?,” Hontiveros said.

“We have bent over backwards for China long enough. This is the sort of policy that is very unlikely to inspire confidence in the Philippines as a partner nation. Hindi tayo pagkakatiwalaan," she added. — DVM, GMA News