Summon Chinese envoy over presence of 200 vessels in West Philippine Sea, ex-DFA chief Del Rosario urges gov’t

Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario on Monday called on the government to summon China's ambassador over the presence of more than 200 Chinese militia vessels in the country's waters, calling it another act of aggression against the Philippines.

At the same time, Del Rosario said the Philippines should seek consultation with  security partners like the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, Australia and Japan "on how to move forward with this recent act of Chinese aggression."

"Given the gravity of this development, we should consider summoning the Chinese Ambassador in the Philippines to ask why we should not consider this Chinese action at Julian Felipe Reef to be an act of unilateral aggression against the territorial integrity of our country," Del Rosario said in a statement.

Manila on Sunday protested against the massing of around 220 Chinese Maritime Militia vessels around Julian Felipe Reef (Whitsun Reef) in the West Philippine Sea on March 7, 2021.

The Chinese Embassy did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

"This recent Chinese action fits the pattern of blatant bullying being done by the Chinese leadership over decades against its neighbors in the South China Sea," said Del Rosario, who led the Philippines' arbitral tribunal victory against China in 2016.

The ruling invalidated China's sweeping claims over the resource-rich waters.

Over the years, China, which insisted on historical claim over nearly the entire South China Sea, has expanded its presence in the area, turning several former reefs into artificial islands with military facilities, runways and surface to air missiles.

China and five other governments - Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan – are embroiled in years-long disputes over the South China Sea, particularly in its southern part, called the Spratlys.

While it is the sworn duty of Philippine leaders and officials "to defend what is ours," Del Rosario said the government must remain "proactive against incursions on our sovereign rights."

The National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea called the latest Chinese incursion a cause for concern due to the possible overfishing and destruction of the marine environment, as well as risks to safety of navigation. — RSJ, GMA News