Youth group asks Duterte to tread carefully in China

High School and college students in Puerto Princesa, Palawan joined the victory rally for the West Philippine Sea organized by the National Youth Movement for the West Philippine Sea (NYMWPS) last July 12, when UN Permanent Court of Arbitration decided in favor of the Philippines against China. CONTRIBUTED

SAIPAN — As President Rodrigo Duterte departed for a visit to China, members and supporters of the National Youth Movement for West Philippine Sea (NYMWPS) urged to uphold the Philippines’ “national sovereignty and territorial integrity, as mandated by the 1987 Constitution.”

The organization asked that the president be careful with his statements when it concerns the West Philippine Sea, arguing that whatever statements made would have adverse implications on the Philippines’ territorial claims. Its statement was released by Dr. Celia Lamkin , NYMWPS founder who is based in Saipan and Guam.

The group expressed “great concern” that China wanted the Philippines to concede its sovereignty and enter into a joint development with China in return.

“This is very alarming because agreeing to this arrangement would mean setting aside the territorial claim which the Philippines have fought hard for and which has been upheld by the UN Arbitral Tribunal decision,” its statement said.

The group urged the president to ask China to stop the massive reclamation being done in the West Philippine Sea, “which has caused severe and permanent damage to the coral reef environment and the ecosystems and habitat of depleted, threatened and endangered species in the area.

It also asked the Philippine government to define foreign policies that “protect our territory and environment, develop our economy, and promote the welfare and well-being of the Filipinos especially the residents and the military men assigned in the Pag-asa and the rest of Kalayaan Islands in Palawan — the frontliners in the disputed territory and the Scarborough Shoal  fishermen as well as their families.”

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