Hontiveros dares Palace: Confront ‘best friend’ China on incursions in West Philippine Sea

Malacañang should confront its “best friend” China on the presence of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Senator Risa Hontiveros said as she noted that everyone but Malacañang has spoken up against the recent incursions.

“Malacanang, do something. Dapat may gawin kayo. China is becoming the region's biggest bully. It's time to unequivocally stand up to her. Dapat komprontahin na ng Palasyo ang kanyang di umano best friend. And besides, what is Malacanang waiting for?” Hontiveros said in a CNN Philippines interview.

(Malacañang, do something. China is becoming the region's biggest bully. It's time to unequivocally stand up to her. The Palace must confront its best friend and besides, what is Malacañang waiting for?)

It is “infuriating” to consistently hear high officials of the government to settle the issues because China and the Philippines are “friends,” she added.

“Under this administration, we don't even have freedom of navigation in our own Exclusive Economic Zone. Nakakahiya…Ganyan ba magtrato ang isang kaibigan sa kanyang kaibigan?” she asked.

(Under this administration, we don't even have freedom of navigation in our own Exclusive Economic Zone. What a shame. Is that how friends treat each other?)

She noted that the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of National Defense, lawmakers, the business sector, and other groups have already issued statements against the presence of Chinese vessels in the WPS.

“Ang kulang na lang may gawin o sabihin, si Presidente. O di sige sana mag-jetski siya diyan sa Ayungin Shoal, itayo niya, i-plant niya ang ating watawat diyan,” Hontiveros added.

(What is lacking is the actions or the statements from the President. He can ride a jetski to Ayungin Shoal and plant our flag there.)

Ayungin Shoal or Second Thomas Shoal is about 105 nautical miles from Palawan and part of the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

The opposition lawmaker also pointed out that the impact of the DFA’s statement on the withdrawal of Chinese vessels in the area gets diminished if President Rodrigo Duterte will opt to deal with the matter privately.

“Binabawasan ang impact niyan ng Presidente mismo sa ganyang idadaanan nalang daw niya sa pribadong pag-uusap? I'm sorry, ang ginagawa ng Tsina sa atin, sa ating dagat, ay napakapubliko,” Hontiveros said.

(Duterte's silence decreases the impact of these statements if he wanted to resolve this through private conversations. I'm sorry but what China is doing to us and to our seas are all made in public.)

“Ito po ay pambabastos sa ating buong bansa [This is a disrespect to the entire country] and it's really a sorry sight that the president is falling behind in his silence,” she added.

On Thursday, retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, likewise, asked Duterte to speak up on the ongoing tensions in the WPS.

Duterte previously stated that the intrusion of Chinese vessels in waters off  Julian Felipe Reef is not an obstacle to the friendship between the Philippines and China.

He added that both countries will resolve the issue through “diplomatic channels and through peaceful means. Whatever differences we have with China will not define our bilateral relations.”

The DFA earier filed two new diplomatic protests against China over the 200 Chinese militia vessels lingering at the WPS.

Aside from the 240 Chinese militia vessels, six Chinese Navy vessels, including three warships, have been spotted in the WPS by Philippine sovereignty patrols.

There were also two People's Liberation Army Navy vessels seen in Panatag Shoal (old Spanish name: Bajo de Masinloc), a ring-shaped coral reef in Masinloc, Zambales and an integral part of Philippine territory.

It is located 124 nautical miles west of Zambales and is within the 200 nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and Philippine Continental Shelf.

The NTF-WPS said there were also illegal Chinese poachers discovered in parts of Pag-asa Island, the second largest of the naturally occurring Spratly Islands and the largest of the Philippine-administered islands.

The island lies about 480 kilometers (300 mi) west of Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

These vessels are different from the Chinese ships spotted near Julian Felipe Reef. -Hana Bordey/MDM, GMA News