Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 5)—Senator Risa Hontiveros said on Tuesday that the Philippine government should do more “actionable on-the-group steps” than “diplomatic protests” to prevent the Chinese vessels from continuing its activities in the West Philippine Sea.
After the reported swarming of over 135 Chinese maritime vessels at the Julian Felipe Reef on Dec. 2, the lawmaker urged the government to deploy more maritime security forces, adding that diplomatic efforts are clearly being ignored.
\”By now, we should be doing more than fire off a diplomatic protest. We have to execute actionable on-the-ground steps to prevent the Chinese from any reclamation and base-building activities in Julian Felipe,\” Hontiveros said in a statement.
\”Dapat maparami na rin natin ang hanay nila para tuluyan nang maitaboy ang Tsina,\” she said, referring to the country’s security forces.
[Translation: We should increase their ranks to drive away.]
The lawmaker said that in 2021 and 2022, hundreds of Chinese ships were also monitored near the Julian Felipe Reef.
READ:
Suspected Chinese militia boats refuse to leave Julian Felipe reef in West PH Sea despite protest
PH files protest vs return of Chinese vessels in Julian Felipe Reef
https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2022/6/9/DFA-protest-China-vessels-Julian-Felipe-Reef-2022.html
