House pushed to protest, condemn China’s ‘harassment’ of Filipinos in WPS

Some of the about 220 Chinese vessels reported by the Philippine Coast Guard, and believed to be manned by Chinese maritime militia personnel, are pictured at Whitsun Reef, South China Sea, March 7, 2021. Picture taken March 7, 2021. Philippine Coast Guard/National Task Force-West Philippine Sea/Handout via REUTERS.

MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker has filed a resolution urging the House of Representatives to “strongly protest and condemn” the harassment of Filipinos by Chinese elements in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

House Resolution No. 1707 filed on April 12 by Muntinlupa City Rep. Ruffy Biazon expresses the sense of the House to strongly protest and condemn the harassment of Filipinos by elements from the Coast Guard, Navy and militia of the People’s Republic of China in the West Philippine Sea.

Biazon, who serves as vice chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on National Defense and Security, said China’s “manifest bullying” as well as the presence of what are believed to be Chinese military militia in the contested waters is “the height of Chinese arrogance and hypocrisy following their persistent call on others to practice respect and promote peace in those waters.”

“The use of grey hulls in denying Filipinos’ passage in the West Philippine Sea within the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is a conduct  that deserves condemnation by the Filipinos,” Biazon said in the resolution.

“This august chamber composed of members who are direct representatives of the people, is the most appropriate body to express the sentiments of our countrymen and protest the continuing violation of the rights of the Republic of the Philippines and the Filipino people under international law by the People’s Republic of China,” he added.

The resolution likewise called on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to file a new diplomatic protest as well as consider summoning the Chinese representative to the Philippines to explain the harassment of Filipinos by armed Chinese Navy vessels in the WPS.

Chinese vessels at Juan Felipe (Whitsun) Reef. AFP Photo

Biazon’s resolution also called on the Department of National Defense (DND) to pursue the conduct of maritime patrols in the Philippines’ EEZ and to assert and protect Philippine rights in the contested waters.

The DFA, for its part, has already summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian to express “utmost displeasure” over the illegal, lingering presence of Chinese vessels in Julian Felipe Reef in the WPS.

The foreign affairs department has also filed multiple diplomatic protests against China.

On Wednesday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. ordered the filing of another diplomatic protest over the swarming of 240 Chinese militia vessels in various parts of the West Philippine Sea.

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