Hontiveros slams China’s rejection of South China Sea ruling as ‘hypocrisy’

SANDY CAY A Navy sailor plants a Philippine flag on Sandy Cay during a visit on June 26, 2022.
—MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday criticized China for its rejection of the historic arbitral ruling on the South China Sea.

“Despite the name, the South China Sea is not Chinese, and the Chinese government has no special authority therein, other than as provided for in the United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea,” said Hontiveros in a statement.

“China’s call for the rest of the world to stay out of the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea and respect its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests is the height of hypocrisy, as the Chinese government itself all too willingly violates the sovereignty, rights, and interests of other claimant countries when it thinks it can get away with it,” she added.

Her comments came after the Chinese Embassy in Manila downplayed the historic arbitral ruling on the West Philippine Sea, calling the decision “illegal,” “null” and “void.”

Hontiveros then called out the Chinese Embassy, urging the consulate to “show basic courtesy” to its host country and consider the consequences before deciding to publish “inflammatory statements.”

According to the lawmaker, if this behavior continues, the Marcos administration should consider reviewing the country’s policy toward China.

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