MANILA, Philippines- Bukas ang Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) na pag-usapan kasama ang counterparts nito ang mapanganib na aksyon na ginawa ng air force ng Tsina sa Scarborough Shoal sa West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Sa isinagawang pagdinig ng panukalang 2025 budget ng DFA, kinondena ni DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo ang kamakailan lamang na agresyon ng Tsina, inulit nito na ang shoal ay “well-within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).”
“These are lawful flight operations and they did not violate any property or jurisdiction. It was well-within our rights and they entered over our airspace. They had overtaken our airspace,” ang sinabi ni Manalo sa mga miyembro ng Kongreso.
Nauna rito, kinumpirma ng departamento na naghain ito ng diplomatic protest laban sa Tsina na may kaugnayan sa insidente. Gayunman, wala naman itong ibinigay na karagdagang detalye hinggil sa protesta.
“Ang policy naman natin here in the South China Sea has always been our willingness to settle any disputes through peaceful means and negotiations in accordance to international law. Hindi lang limited sa note verbale,” ang sinabi ni Manalo.
“If China is willing to speak on these, we are willing to talk..but this particular incident what was really upsetting was the use of flares. We’re open to any discussion,” dagdag na pahayag nito.
Sinabi pa ni Manalo na nagsasagawa ng regular consultations ang DFA sa Tsina.
Kinondena naman ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ang naging aksyon ng Tsina, inilarawan ito bilang “unjustified, illegal and reckless.”
“The President strongly condemns the air incident in Bajo de Masinloc earlier this week, and stands by our brave men and women of the AFP, especially the Philippine Air Force,” ayon sa Presidential Communications Office (PC).
“The actions of the People’s Liberation Army – Air Force (PLAAF) aircraft were unjustified, illegal and reckless, especially as the PAF aircraft was undertaking a routine maritime security operation in Philippine sovereign airspace,” dagdag na wika nito.
Samantala, ipinanukala ng DFA ang P27.15 billion budget para sa susunod na taon, mas mataas kaysa sa P24.63 billion funding nito ngayong 2024. Sa nasabing halaga, 56% o P15.19 billion ang ilalaan para sa maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE); 36% o P9.79 billion para sa personnel services, at 8% o P2.18 billion para sa capital outlay.
Winika ng DFA na P54.66 million ng MOOE ang ilalaan para sa second year implementation ng Apostille system, at P4.29 billion ay para naman sa e-passports. Kris Jose
