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Pacquiao says he asked China to leave Julian Felipe Reef before Drilon filed reso


Senator Manny Pacquiao on Friday said he sent the Chinese embassy a letter calling on China to remove its warships and militia vessels in the West Philippine Sea even before 11 senators signed a resolution condemning the Chinese presence in the exclusive economic zone.

Pacquiao made the remark after he chose not to sign the resolution Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon filed against the presence of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea,

“ Hindi naman na-media yung sulat ko sa Chinese Ambassador dahil personal letter ko yun. Two weeks after, Senator Drilon passed a resolution of the same nature which I did not sign because I already had a letter pending before the Chinese Ambassador here," Pacquiao said.

In letter addressed to Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian dated April 10, 2021, Pacquiao expressed his deep concern over “recent reports that at least 220 Chinese vessels remain in line formation at the Julian Felipe Reef.”

Drilon's Senate Resolution was crafted and filed last April 26 or 16 days later than Pacquiao’s letter to China.

“ The continuing presence of Chinese ships at the said reef, which is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, only creates tension and harbors divisiveness in our region and evidently destabilizing to the international rule of law,” Pacquaio's letter stated.

“In line with this, we reiterate our call to your government to promptly withdraw these vessels from our territory. We demand nothing less than for your country to respect our sovereignty,” the letter added.

Pacquiao told the Chinese government in his letter that instead of creating animosity with its neighbors, it should behave as  a “unifying figure of regional solidarity.”

“Now is the opportune time for China to be a unifying figure of regional solidarity. Our governments must instead work together towards creating lasting peace and cooperation in the whole Asia-Pacific region, especially during these trying times brought about by the pandemic,” Pacquaio said.

Even before his letter to China, Pacquiao had also issued an official statement already, urging China to pull out its militia fishing boats that have encroached in areas surrounding the Julian Felipe reef.

“ As a friend and neighbor, I appeal to the Chinese leadership to stop this creeping occupation and use your authority to disperse these Chinese fishermen around our Julian Felipe reef. This would show goodwill on your part and an affirmation of your position that this action has not been sanctioned by your government,” Pacquiao’s statement said. --NB, GMA News

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