Ex-DFA chief: China envoy’s ‘fabrication’ remark on ICC complaint ‘magical’

MANILA, Philippines — “How did those artificial islands get there if it’s all fabrication? If China did not put those illegal structures up, who did?”

This was the retort of former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario to China’s Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jinhua’s who dismissed as “fabrication” the complaint filed against Chinese President Xi Jinping before the International Criminal Court (ICC)

“We think it is a kind of political action viciously targeting the Chinese leadership. So we don’t think it is a proper action that is based on facts. It’s a fabrication and also the misuse of the mandate of the ICC,” Zhao said on Monday.

Del Rosario said that he thought it is “all magical” that Zhao said the ICC complaint is a fabrication.

“I think it’s all magical if it’s what he’s saying because how did those artificial islands get there if it’s all fabrication?” he said in an interview over ABS CBN News Channel.

Del Rosario said that in his years as secretary of foreign affairs, he found one certainty in his dealings with the Chinese.

“When China makes a declaration, you can be sure that it is the opposite of what’s happening on the ground,” Del Rosario said.

Del Rosario and former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales earlier filed a complaint, technically called a communication, before the ICC on behalf of Filipino fishermen who were “persecuted and injured” by China’s “atrocious actions” in the West Philippine Sea.

READ: Ex-DFA chief Del Rosario, Morales sue China’s Xi at ICC

Del Rosario and Morales accused Xi of crimes against humanity over China’s activities to gain control over most of the South China Sea. /muf