Zubiri on China’s harassment of PH vessels: ‘This is not their backyard’
Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri (Bibo Nueva España, Senate PRIB/Office of SP Zubiri)
MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Wednesday told the Chinese government to cease its “provocative” and violent” activities in the Philippine waters.
In a press conference, Zubiri said China is intensifying and creating the atmosphere of fear and violence in the West Philippine Sea, which the Philippines is trying to de-escalate.
“We don’t want a conflict with China. That is the last thing that we want to happen, but we are not going to allow one square inch of our territory to be taken away from us, so we’re appealing to China to work out some sort of conduct — a Code of Conduct,” he suggested.
“Kung hindi naman warship ang dumadaan dyan, kung hindi naman swarming ang dumadaan dyan na barko, [at] iilang supply lang ng barko ng mangingisda [lamang] ay huwag na po nating i-harass,” Zubiri asked the Chinese government.
(If it’s not a warship passing through, if the vessels are not swarming, and just a few supply boats of fishermen, let us not harass them.)
“In any other areas with international waters, every ship is respected — every ship is protected by law. Dapat ganun din ang gawin nila dito,” he said.
(They should do the same here.)
“This is not their backyard where they can just do whatever they want and bully whoever they want,” the Senate leader emphasized.
The Senate chief likewise noted that China’s use of excessive force is against the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
“We demand that the Chinese government stop all these violent activities — all provocative activities in Ayungin Shoal and the West Philippine Sea,” said Zubiri.
A Philippine Coast Guard vessel and a Chinese Coast Guard ship collided on Tuesday during China’s “dangerous maneuvers” in the Philippine waters.
In another incident after the collision, China’s ship also attacked a Philippine vessel on a mission to bring supplies to troops in the grounded BRP Sierra Madre.
Following the twin events, Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Teresita Daza said they summoned Chinese Deputy Chief of Mission Zhou Zhiyong to convey the Philippine government’s protest against aggressive actions undertaken by China in Ayungin Shoal.