Lorenzana renews call for China to stop illegal activities in WPS

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Sunday reiterated his call that China should stop conducting illegal activities in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and respect the country's sovereignty.

Lorenzana made the remark after the Chinese Embassy found "perplexing" his earlier statement asking the remaining 44 Chinese vessels near Julian Felipe Reef in the WPS to leave.

In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Lorenzana said the continued presence of the Chinese militia vessels near Julian Felipe reef shows China's intent to further occupy features in the West Philippine Sea.

"China should respect Philippine sovereignty over the Kalayaan Islands, as well as its sovereign rights over its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as defined by UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and affirmed by the arbitral award," he said.

"As a party to the DOC (Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea), China should refrain from conducting illegal activities that disturb regional and international peace and security," he added.

Julian Felipe Reef, called Niu'e Jiao by the Chinese, is a boomerang-shaped feature located 175 nautical miles off Bataraza, Palawan.

The Chinese Embassy said the reef is part of China's Nansha Islands or Spratlys in the South China Sea.

The Philippines renamed parts of the South China Sea that fall within its EEZ and continental shelf as the West Philippine Sea to assert it sovereignty.

In Defying Lorenzana's call, the Chinese Embassy said China had a historical claim over Julian Felipe Reef, which is within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone under the UNCLOS.

"China is committed to safeguarding peace and stability in the waters and we hope that authorities concerned would make constructive efforts and avoid any unprofessional remarks which may further fan irrational emotions," the embassy said.

Also, the embassy said that the waters around the reef "has been a traditional fishing ground for Chinese fishermen for many years."

"The Chinese fishermen have been fishing in the waters for their livelihood every year. It is completely normal for Chinese fishing vessels to fish in the waters and take shelter near the reef during rough sea conditions. Nobody has the right to make wanton remarks on such activities," it added.

But Lorenzana has upheld the 2016 international arbitral tribunal's ruling in favor of Manila's claim over the West Philippine Sea.

"The Chinese Embassy [in] Manila deliberately disregards international law, including the UNCLOS to which China is a party. Its nine-dash line claim is without any factual or legal basis. This, together with its so-called historical claim, was flatly and categorically rejected by the arbitral tribunal," Lorezana said.

"The Philippines’ claims stand on solid grounds while China’s do not," he added.

The Philippines has already filed a diplomatic protest against China over the presence of Chinese militia vessels near Julian Felipe Reef.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has also demanded the withdrawal of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea, saying its presence was a blatant infringement of the country's sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction. —LBG, GMA News