Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 23) — The Philippines should lead the crafting of a joint resolution with other countries to condemn China’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea, a lawmaker said on Monday.
The Department of Foreign Affairs on Monday said the Philippines has filed another diplomatic protest against Beijing after its ships collided with Filipino vessels that were on a resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal on Sunday.
For ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro, filing another diplomatic protest against Beijing is not enough and Manila should be more aggressive in its response.
“The Philippines should initiate a joint resolution with other countries with disputes with China in the West Philippine Sea to condemn and also to defend this, at ikondena itong sinasabi ng (and to condemn) China about [its] nine-dash line,” Castro told CNN Philippines’ The Source.
The nine-dash line on China’s standard national map shows Beijing claiming nearly the entire South China Sea as part of its territory. It overlaps with the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of the Philippines as well as those of Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Last August 28, Beijing released its updated standard map showing 10 dashes that form a U shape.
Castro said the joint resolution should also reiterate the 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling that invalidated Beijing’s expansive claims in the South China Sea.
The lawmaker believes the joint resolution will gain support based on the number of countries that issued statements condemning the recent incident in the WPS. This includes the United States, Canada, Japan, France, Australia, as well as the European Union.
Castro said ASEAN countries should also be part of the resolution.
