MANILA, Philippines – Kinontra ng Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) ang naging pahayag ni
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi na ang mga insidente sa South China Sea ay gawa-gawa lamang umano ayon sa utos ng ibang bansa.
”The Philippines disagrees with the recent remarks of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi characterizing the developments and incidents in the South China Sea as mere theatre staged under the direction of other countries,” saad sa pahayag ng DFA.
Anang DFA, dapat kilalanin ng China na ang Pilipinas ay isang independent at sovereign state ”whose actions and decisions are driven entirely by national interest and the interests and well-being of the Filipino people.”
”No creative analogy or play of words will mask the real issue, which is China’s refusal to abide by international law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award, and the adverse effects of China’s disregard for the rules-based international order on Filipino communities genuinely affected by China’s illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive behavior at sea,” sinabi pa ng ahensya.
Nanawagan ito sa ibang mga bansa na iwasan ang pagbibigay ng mga salita na maaari lamang magpalala sa tensyon sa rehiyon.
Kamakailan ay ikinumpara ng China ang isyu sa South China Sea sa isang “shadow play” na ginagawa ng Pilipinas, kasabay ng babala nito “to those acting as others’ chess pieces are bound to be discarded.” RNT/JGC
