ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro, Flag of China (Rep. Castro's office, Unsplash)
ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro has underscored the need for "Immediate action" from President Marcos in order to stop regional power China's "bullying" in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
This, as the House deputy minority leader condemned China's escalating aggressive actions in the WPS, which over on Sunday, Oct. 22, resulted in a collission betwwen a Chinese militia vessel with a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship and an Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)-chartered boat.
"Kailangang kagyat ng umaksyon ang gobyernong Marcos para mapigilan ang pambubully ng Tsina," said the Makabayan solon.
(The Marcos administration must quickly act in order to stop China's bullying.)
The boat was supposed to bring supplies to Filipino troops aboard BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.
Castro cited a suggestion from former Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares, who had noted that "ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member-disputants can file a joint resolution at the UN (United Nations) General Assembly expressing the sense of the body that China should abide by the PCA ruling with regards to the nullification of China’s nine-dash-line claim in particular and international law in general."
PCA stands for Permanent Court of Arbitration, which in July 2016 gave a favorable ruling to the Philippines when it challenged Beijing's expansive nine-dash-line claim. China has never recognized the ruling.
"While China may not be forced by the UNGA to abide by a tribunal decision, such a resolution could form part of the multi-pronged pro-active approach to encourage China to seriously agree to a peaceful settlement of the dispute," Castro quoted Colmenares as saying.
The lady solon expressed concerns that China's aggressive tact could get worse in the coming days if no decision action is done.
"Mukhang mas lalala pa ito sa mga susunod na araw kung walang 'decisive action' tulad ng muling pagsasampa ng kaso sa Tsina o paglalatag ng ginagawa nila sa UN General Assembly at pagtutulak ng resolution ng UNGA laban dito," she said.
(This could get worse in the coming days if no decisive action is made, like the filing of a case against China or raising it before UNGA and seeking a resolution against it.)
Source: Manila Bulletin (https://mb.com.ph/2023/10/22/unga-intervention-solon-seeks-immediate-action-from-marcos-admin-on-china-bullying)
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