DFA cites as 'illegal' Chinese activities in disputed waters around Pag-asa Islands
Published Apr 4, 2019 05:54 pm
By Roy Mabasa
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday branded as “illegal” the presence of Chinese vessels near and around Pag-asa Islands, which it said are part of the Kalayaan Group of Islands (KIG) and an integral part of the Philippines over which it has sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction.
Pagasa Island. (AP FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
This is the first time that the DFA has openly objected to aggressive Chinese activities in the disputed waters of the South China Sea or the West Philippine Sea under the three-year-old administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Accordingly, the presence of Chinese vessels near and around Pag-asa and other maritime features in the KIG is illegal. Such actions are a clear violation of Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction, as defined under international law including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),” said the DFA in a statement issued by the office of Acting Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Emmanuel Fernandez.
The DFA further said that it has been observed that Chinese vessels have been present “in large numbers and for sustained and recurring periods.”
It pointed out that such action is what is commonly referred to as “swarming” tactics that raises questions about their intent as well as “concerns over their role in support of coercive objectives.”
When not repudiated by the Chinese government, the DFA said such actions are “deemed to have been adopted by it.”
“The presence of Chinese vessels within the KIG, whether military, fishing or other vessels, will thus continue to be the subject of appropriate action by the Philippines,” the foreign affairs office said.
Moreover, it stated for the record that Manila has consistently manifested its position on the Pag-asa Islands and on the KIG, and its objections or concerns over what it called as “illegal, tension-raising or coercive activities” through diplomatic actions, including notes verbales and in meetings with the Chinese side, including the recently concluded Philippines-China Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM).
In the same statement, the DFA called on China to desist from any action and activity that contravenes the ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), saying that such actions “generate tension, mistrust and uncertainty, and threatens regional peace and stability.”
Relatedly, the Philippine government calls for the full and effective implementation of the DOC while negotiations for a Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea are ongoing.
“We cannot emphasize enough the imperative to build and promote mutual trust and confidence, to exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities; and to avoid actions that may further complicate the situation and undermine peace, security and stability in the region,” it said.
The DFA likewise called on China to adhere to the consensus reached between the leaders of both countries during last year’s visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping where both sides agreed to exercise self-restraint with respect to activities in the South China Sea that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability.
“We call on the Chinese government to adhere to this consensus reached at the highest levels, down to its agencies and its military,” it said.
On Tuesday, DFA Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. confirmed that the Philippines has filed a diplomatic protest or note verbale against China regarding the presence of its more than 200 ships in and around Pag-asa in the last several weeks.
Pagasa Island. (AP FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
This is the first time that the DFA has openly objected to aggressive Chinese activities in the disputed waters of the South China Sea or the West Philippine Sea under the three-year-old administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Accordingly, the presence of Chinese vessels near and around Pag-asa and other maritime features in the KIG is illegal. Such actions are a clear violation of Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction, as defined under international law including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),” said the DFA in a statement issued by the office of Acting Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Emmanuel Fernandez.
The DFA further said that it has been observed that Chinese vessels have been present “in large numbers and for sustained and recurring periods.”
It pointed out that such action is what is commonly referred to as “swarming” tactics that raises questions about their intent as well as “concerns over their role in support of coercive objectives.”
When not repudiated by the Chinese government, the DFA said such actions are “deemed to have been adopted by it.”
“The presence of Chinese vessels within the KIG, whether military, fishing or other vessels, will thus continue to be the subject of appropriate action by the Philippines,” the foreign affairs office said.
Moreover, it stated for the record that Manila has consistently manifested its position on the Pag-asa Islands and on the KIG, and its objections or concerns over what it called as “illegal, tension-raising or coercive activities” through diplomatic actions, including notes verbales and in meetings with the Chinese side, including the recently concluded Philippines-China Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM).
In the same statement, the DFA called on China to desist from any action and activity that contravenes the ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), saying that such actions “generate tension, mistrust and uncertainty, and threatens regional peace and stability.”
Relatedly, the Philippine government calls for the full and effective implementation of the DOC while negotiations for a Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea are ongoing.
“We cannot emphasize enough the imperative to build and promote mutual trust and confidence, to exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities; and to avoid actions that may further complicate the situation and undermine peace, security and stability in the region,” it said.
The DFA likewise called on China to adhere to the consensus reached between the leaders of both countries during last year’s visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping where both sides agreed to exercise self-restraint with respect to activities in the South China Sea that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability.
“We call on the Chinese government to adhere to this consensus reached at the highest levels, down to its agencies and its military,” it said.
On Tuesday, DFA Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. confirmed that the Philippines has filed a diplomatic protest or note verbale against China regarding the presence of its more than 200 ships in and around Pag-asa in the last several weeks.