Akbayan, Atin Ito call out China's nature reserve plan in West PH Sea

Members of the Akbayan Party and Atin Ito Coalition on Wednesday gathered in front of the Chinese Embassy in Makati City to call out Beijing’s plan of building a nature reserve in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Akbayan said their group issued a “radio challenge,” demanding China to stop its “unlawful incursions” and “environmental destruction” in the WPS, including Bajo de Masinloc.

“Nature reserve? More like Chinese occupation of the WPS. Hindi na bumebenta ang mga kasinungalingan ng China (China’s lies are no longer selling),” Akbayan president and Atin Ito convenor Rafaela David said.

“They cannot hide their malevolent intent in the guise of environmental protection. You cannot claim to be protecting marine life while destroying our marine resources and harassing Filipino fisherfolk. The hypocrisy is staggering,” she added.

GMA News Online has sought comment from the Chinese Embassy in Manila about the matter but the office has yet to provide a statement as of posting time. 

In their “radio challenge,” the group told the Chinese government:

“To the People’s Republic of China—this is a message from the sovereign citizens of the Republic of the Philippines. Cease your unlawful aggression within our Exclusive Economic Zone.”

“Your illegal activities endanger not only Filipino lives but also the lives of your own people as you continue to damage our marine life and resources. The Panatag Shoal is not yours to claim, it is ours to protect.”

On September 10, China announced the creation of a national nature reserve in Bajo de Masinloc, also called Panatag Shoal or Scarborough Shoal.

The Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on September 13 said it formally filed a diplomatic protest against China over its plan.

Australia, Canada. and Japan also rejected China's nature reserve in Bajo de Masinloc.

Bajo de Masinloc is located 124 nautical miles off Masinloc, Zambales, and is considered within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country’s claim.

The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that the latter had "no legal basis." —KG, GMA Integrated News