Reso urging Senate to condemn China’s 'intrusion' in Sandy Cay filed

A resolution condemning the “illegal intrusion” of China in Sandy Cay in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) has been filed in the Senate.

Senator Francis Tolentino filed on Wednesday proposed Senate Resolution 1347 which urges the Senate to express its condemnation “in the strongest terms possible” China’s “provocative and illegal actions” on Pag-asa Cay 2 (Sandy Cay) and other maritime features in the WPS.

The Senate was also urged to assert the Philippines’ sovereignty, sovereign rights or jurisdiction over the areas in accordance with the general international law, the UNCLOS, the 2016 Arbitral Award, and Republic Act 12064 or the Philippine Maritime Zones Act.

Tolentino’s resolution was filed after China claimed that it seized control of Sandy Cay, which is part of the Spratly Islands.

“These egregious acts constitute a blatant violation of the Philippine Constitution, an affront to the sovereignty of the Republic of the Philippines. It is a violation as well of international law and the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea,” Tolentino said.

“The continued provocative activities of China in the West Philippine Sea and its blatant disregard for international law threaten regional peace and stability, and undermine efforts to resolve the South China Sea dispute peacefully and in accordance with international norms and principles,” added Tolentino.

Tolentino also included in the resolution his call for the Senate to urge the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Justice, and other relevant government agencies to take all necessary legal, diplomatic, and operational measures to protect and defend the Philippines’ maritime zones and features, especially in the West Philippine Sea, against further unlawful encroachment.

Likewise, Tolentino called for a “comprehensive inquiry” led by Senate special committee on maritime and admiralty zones, which he chairs, to explore additional measures to safeguard the Philippines’ sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction, and to strengthen national efforts to protect the country’s interests in the WPS. —VAL, GMA Integrated News