‘Strength in numbers’: Ejercito calls on ‘right-thinking nations’ to defy China’s 10-dash line claim

MANILA, Philippines — China’s updated standard map featuring a 10-dash line is just another form of intimidation, said Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito, adding that the Philippines, along with right-minded nations, should defy this baseless claim.

“It’s not only the Philippines who will be affected, [but] other countries as well are affected by their new ten-dash line. Maybe this is just China’s [form of] intimidation. They have changed and become very aggressive,” said Ejercito in a mix of English and Filipino in a press briefing held Friday.

China, in its newly-released standard map, asserted its claim over a large part of the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, which sits within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone.

China likewise claimed that its territory extends through Taiwan and India’s northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin region.

Ejercito, following the release of this map, said the Philippines and other nations that have ongoing disputes with China should force an alliance and reject China’s continued assertions.

“There’s strength in numbers. Admittedly, [the Philippines] can’t handle China, we will always be bullied, and we are a really small country. Maybe we have [a] bigger chance if we will forge an alliance with other countries, especially [those with ongoing] dispute with China, and of course with our right-thinking nations [and] our allies, the United States, Japan, Australia, and even South Korea,” the lawmaker pointed out.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday dismissed the new map and called on China to act responsibly and abide by international laws.

A diplomatic protest was also filed against China’s 10-dash line claim, but the DFA has yet to provide details about this protest.

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