West Philippine Sea: The President is undeterred

By now, everyone knows how determined the President is in protecting our maritime territory and sovereign rights as clearly articulated in his latest statement – posted on his social media accounts for the whole world to see – that “No one but the Philippines has a legitimate right or legal basis to operate anywhere in the West Philippine Sea.” 

The President strongly called out the “aggression and provocations perpetrated by the China Coast Guard and their Chinese Maritime Militia” against Philippine vessels and personnel, stating that these have “only further steeled our determination to defend and protect our nation’s sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea.” 

President Marcos Jr. had done almost everything to try and find ways and means to talk to the Chinese and to President Xi Jinping for a peaceful resolution to the maritime disputes. When the President made a state visit to China in January, he and President Xi agreed to solve the issues through peaceful means, with both governments issuing a statement that “…reaffirmed the importance of maintaining and promoting peace and stability in the region and the freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea.” 

During the recent APEC Leaders’ Summit in San Francisco, the President sought out President Xi during a meeting on the sidelines to explore ways to ease the tension and look for ways forward and continue in trying to maintain the peace. In a video message, the President said, “We will get the view of the Chinese president on what we can do to bring down the temperature, to not escalate the situation in the West Philippine Sea.”  

But despite all these efforts, Chinese Coast Guard and militia vessels continue to bully and harass Filipino fishermen who have been prevented from plying their livelihood in waters that are clearly part of our exclusive economic zone. And the aggression just keeps escalating, as seen in the latest assault on three boats of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources that were repeatedly blasted with water cannons, with one of the boats also rammed. One of the vessels sustained severe damage on its engines and had to be towed