DFA To Investigate Truth Behind TV Crew Chased Away By Chinese Vessels
DFA TO INVESTIGATE TRUTH – According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), it will launch an investigation regarding Chinese ships chasing away a vessel carrying crew from ABS-CBN.
The Issues of China encroaching on Filipino waters had been a hotly debated topic since early 2016. Until now, the Philippines has yet to show any sign of progress to drive out the Chinese despite early promises to do so.
Meanwhile, in the case of the ABS-CBN crew being chased away in the West Philippine Sea, the DFA said it would raise the concern to the Chinese government if “proven to be true”. Furthermore, the DFA said that groups wishing to visit the Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea to coordinate with authorities first.
For now, the DFA expressed relief that the crew from ABS-CBN and the Filipino vessel are safe. However, when the media asked Malacañang for a statement regarding the issue, they passed the ball to the DFA.
Leading into the incident, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque emphasized that “Philippines’ BFF China” was the reason we have vaccines. He claimed that if the Philippines’ “BFF” was “Uncle Sam”, we wouldn’t have any.
Several lawmakers such as Senator Manny Pacquiao expressed their thoughts regarding the issue of China’s presence in PH waters. Pacquiao said that China should disperse from the West PH Sea and stop its “creeping encroachment”.
In 2016, an international court ruled that the resource-rich West Philippine Sea and its islands fall under the territory of the Philippines. But, since then, China had ramped up militarization of the area and invalidated the nine-dash line arbitral ruling.
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