Senators Request the DFA to File a Diplomatic Protest Against China’s Alleged Militarization in Scarborough Shoal
SENATORS – Philippine Senators requested the Department of Foreign Affairs to file a diplomatic protest against China’s alleged militarization in Scarborough Shoal.
The Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal) is located 230 km west of Masinloc, Zambales. The area has been controlled by the Chinese since 2012.
Recently, Chinese Coast Guards blocked the team of GMA reporter Jun Veneracion from filming in the Scarborough Shoal.
Last November 22 (Thursday), the GMA network aired their news documentary Reporter’s Notebook exposing the recent incident.
GMA Reporter’s Notebook team was approached by the Chinese coast guard and was told that they are trespassing the area. The coastguards stopped their interviews and were urged to leave immediately.
Based on a report from GMA, eight Senators reacted to the incident and they requested the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to file a diplomatic protest against China.
Senators namely Antonio Trillanes IV, Ralph Recto, Risa Hontiveros, Francis Pangilinan, Leila de Lima, Franklin Drilon, Benigno Paolo Aquino IV, and Joseph Victor Ejercito filed a resolution last Wednesday amid the alleged increasing mobilization of China in Scarborough Shoal.
China allegedly installed air missile and anti-ship cruise missiles on Subi Reef, Panganiban Reef, and Kagitingan Reef said the US intelligence.
According to the report, the senators stated that all those reefs that were mentioned belong to the Philippines.
“The Philippines has sovereignty over Kagitingan and Zamora Reefs, as well as exclusive sovereign rights over Panganiban Reef as decided by the Permanent Court of Arbitration,” the senators said.
The West Philippine Sea is a part of the South China Sea which the Philippines has territorial claims as sided by the Tribunal.
Based on the report, senators expressed that they won’t allow China to continue their threat to the Philippines in the interest of the West Philippine Sea and the alleged militarization of the region.
They wanted the government to defend the country’s territories against the alleged awful expansion of the Chinese military in the South China Sea and the West Philippine Sea.
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