MANILA, Philippines – Walang nilabag na international laws ang mga hakbang ng Pilipinas sa Bajo de Masinloc.
Ito ang posisyon ng Department of Foreign Affairs nitong Lunes, Marso 4, sabay-sabing hindi rin ito nagpapalala ng tensyon sa West Philippine Sea.
Sa pahayag, sinabi ng DFA na ang Bajo de Masinloc ay mahalagang bahagi ng Pilipinas, kung saan may soberanya at hurisdiksyon ang ating bansa sa naturang lugar.
“These actions are not provocative and do not violate the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea,” giit ng ahensya.
“It is also within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf,” dagdag ng DFA.
Sinabi rin nito na mayroong mga “territorial transgressions” na ginagawa labans sa Pilipinas, bagama’t hindi nito direktang tinukoy kung China ba ang “aggressor.”
“Activities that infringe upon the Philippines’ sovereignty and jurisdiction in Bajo de Masinloc and its surrounding territorial sea, are violations of international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 Arbitral Award,” pagdidiin ng DFA.
“Bajo de Masinloc is a high tide feature and is a traditional fishing ground for Filipinos, which means that Filipino fishers have all the right to fish there,” paliwanag pa.
“It’s 12 [nautical miles] territorial sea and the surrounding seas within the Philippine [exclusive economic zone]. It is the duty of Philippine authorities to support and protect them in the exercise of this right.”
Ang pahayag ay inilabas kasunod ng sinabi ni China Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang na ang Pilipinas, “has enticed countries out of the region to stir up the situation in the South China Sea.”
Binatikos din ng Chinese official ang joint military exercises at joint patrols sa West Philippine Sea.
Aniya, sa mga bagay na ito, ang Pilipinas ay lumabag sa “principles of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and jeopardized regional peace and stability, and runs counter to the efforts of countries in the region to maintain peace and stability.”
Matatandaan na ibinasura ng arbitral tribunal ang sinasabi ng China na sa kanila ang malaking bahagi ng West Philippine Sea, kabilang na ang Bajo de Masinloc.
Sa kabila nito, gumagawa pa rin ng kung ano-ano ang China sa bahaging ito ng West Philippine Sea. RNT/JGC
