11 senators file resolution ‘strongly condemning’ illegal Chinese activities in West Philippine Sea

Eleven senators on Monday filed a resolution "strongly condemning" the illegal activities of China in the country’s exclusive economic zone (EZZ) in the West Philippine Sea.

Under Senate Resolution 708, which was principally authored by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, senators said the continued presence of Chinese ship at Philippines' sovereign territory violates the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration award which favored Philippines' claims to West Philippine Sea.

“China should not be allowed to rewrite or nullify the UNCLOS, which was painstakingly negotiated and ratified by various States, as such blatant disregard of established international law not only has serious ramifications on a rules-based international order," senators said.

"[It] likewise deprives Philippine fishermen of livelihood, prevents the Philippines from fully taking advantage of the resources within its exclusive economic zone, causes irreparable damage to the marine environment due to pollution and destruction of coral reefs, and serves to militarize the South China Sea,” the senators added.

Earlier, 14 Chinese militia vessels were spotted at Julian Felipe Reef, which is part of Philippines EEZ.

Several other Chinese ships and warships remained at Kalayaan Island Group even as Philippines' defense and foreign affairs department demanded China to pullout these ships.

The senators said the continued incursions of Chinese ships is a "clear violation" of Article 60 under the UNCLOS which states that “in the exclusive economic zone, the coastal State shall have the exclusive right to construct and to authorize and regulate the construction, operation, and use of artificial islands, installations and structures.”

Aside from Drilon, Senators Ralph Recto, Nancy Binay, Leila De Lima, Richard Gordon, Risa Hontiveros, Lito Lapid, Francis Pangilinan, Grace Poe, Joel Villanueva, and Bong Revilla co-authored the strongly-worded resolution.

Chinese government repeatedly dismissed the 2016 PCA Award, saying that the Julian Felipe Reef is part of China's Nansha Islands. It also denied that the vessels scattered at the West Philippine Sea were operated by the maritime militia.—LDF, GMA News