BARBERS SLAMS CHINA OVER DEMAND FOR RESPECT AMID ITS CONTINUED DISRESPECT OF PH AND OTHER ASIAN CLAIMANTS IN THE REGION

By Junex Doronio

MANILA – Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers once again blasted the Chinese government on Sunday (17 November 2024) for its “expansionist” tactics and blatant interference in Philippine domestic affairs, particularly its efforts to question the country’s laws that reinforce its rights over maritime zones.

Barbers, who is the lead chair of the Lower House’s Quad Committee and also heads the House Dangerous Drugs panel, pointed out that while China demands respect for its claims in the West Philippine Sea—a claim that lacks both historical and legal grounds—it continuously disrespects the Philippines’ sovereignty and its position on the matter.

The Quad Committee chair issued his statement after China summoned the Philippine ambassador to explain two recently enacted maritime laws—Republic Act 12064, and Republic Act 12065—both aimed at bolstering the country’s rights over its maritime zones.

Barbers emphasized that, after a series of bullying incidents involving the use of water cannons, ship rammings, and even injuries to Philippine Coast Guard personnel in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), China was now attempting to obstruct, intimidate, and prevent the Philippines from enforcing its maritime laws and policies.

“While China demands that the international community respect their self-drawn nine-dash and eleven-dash lines, they show no respect for us. They continue to intrude into our 200-mile exclusive economic zone and ignore the ruling of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on this issue,” Barbers said.

He further pointed out that the Hague-based arbitral ruling, made under UNCLOS, had declared that China’s claim to historic rights over resources in the West Philippine Sea had “no basis in law and is without legal effect.”

Barbers underscored that the 135-member-state UNCLOS had upheld the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction within its exclusive 200-mile economic zone.

“China wants the Philippines to respect their unfounded claims in the West Philippine Sea, but they manifestly disrespect our position on this issue and the UNCLOS ruling in our favor,” Barbers added.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has reaffirmed the Philippines’ firm stance on its sovereignty over the WPS, despite China’s objections to the recently passed maritime and archipelagic sea lane laws.

In response to the enactment of these laws, Beijing demanded that Manila respect China’s territorial sovereignty, maritime rights, and interests, calling for an immediate halt to unilateral actions and for maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea.

“Gusto ng China ng respeto sa claim nila sa WPS, pero di nila tayo nirerespeto sa ating claim at posisyon sa isyung ito, kasama na ang disrespect nila sa desisyon ng UNCLOS sa ating mga karapatan sa loob ng ating 200-mile economic zone,” Barbers said.

“Sinabi na ng UNCLOS na ang China ay walang historical rights at walang legal basis ang claim nila sa WPS. So, ibig sabihin, gawa-gawa lang o produkto lang ng kanilang imahinasyon ang kanilang claim,” he added.

ia/mnm