Estrada urges ‘decisive’ action vs China
Chinese Coast Guard vessel 3302 is seen in a screengrab during a near-collision with Philippine Coast Guard patrol ship BRP Cabra near the Scarborough Shoal over the weekend. — Photo from the Philippine Coast Guard
MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada prodded the Philippine government on Monday to raise before the International Maritime Organization (IMO) China’s latest aggression near Panatag Shoal, also known as Scarborough Shoal.
The incident involving a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel and a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) patrol ship reportedly caused a near collision on Sunday.
READ: Chinese vessel in near-collision with PCG ship
Estrada slammed this latest “stunt” by the CCG, saying it did not only put the lives of Filipino maritime personnel at risk but was also a “blatant disregard for maritime safety and international norms.”
“This reckless behavior is deeply concerning and warrants unequivocal condemnation,” he said in a statement, calling on the government to “take decisive action by bringing this matter” before the IMO.
According to him, this attempted head-on collision with PCG’s smaller BRP Cabra was a “clear violation of the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs), to which China is a signatory.”
“By addressing China’s unending reckless and dangerous maneuvers against our maritime vessels, we can highlight the gravity of the situation which continues to threaten peace and security in the region.” Estrada said.
“Paulit-ulit man ang kanilang panggigipit, hindi tayo mananawa na i-call out sila at ipaglaban ang ating karapatan sa ating nasasakupan, soberanya at kapakanan ng magigiting nating kababayan,” he added.
(Despite the continued harassment, we will never get tired of calling them out and fighting for our rights over our territory, sovereignty, and the welfare of our brave fellow countrymen)
Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino also strongly condemned China’s actions against the PCG ship.
“As China continues to undermine our maritime peace and stability, I call on the international partners to hold China accountable for its blatant disregard for the rule of law,” Tolentino said in a separate statement.
