MANILA, Philippines – Nagbabala ang Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) na layon ng propaganda campaign na lituhin ang publiko sa nagpapatuloy na territorial dispute ng Pilipinas at China sa West Philippine Sea.
Ayon sa ulat, upang labanan ay propoganda ay nanindigan ang pamahalaan sa posisyon nito sa territorial dispute sa
2016 arbitration ruling at United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“We must expose the illegality of the nine-dash line that is being used as the basis for threatening the livelihoods of our fishermen,” saad sa pahayag ng DFA na binasa ni Assistant Secretary Marshall Louis Alferez.
“We should not allow ourselves to be tainted as the aggressors or the violators.”
Iginiit ng DFA na malinaw kung sino ang lumalabag sa pandaigdigang batas sa West Philippine Sea.
“We categorically reject the excessive claims and aggressive actions by the People’s Republic of China in the WPS, where they stand in stark opposition to the rule of law and the very principles that ensure peace and stability in our region,” dagdag ng DFA.
Samantala, kapareho rin ang pananaw ng Philippine Coast Guard sa aksyon ng China.
“China is just violating international law and they are blatant offenders of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. All of their actions that they are doing there are just basically unlawful actions,” sinabi ni PCG spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela sa isang panayam.
Matatandaan na kamakailan ay binomba na naman ng water cannon ng China ang mga barko ng Pilipinas na patungo sana sa Scarborough Shoal para umayuda sa mga mangingisdang Pinoy.
Kinondena naman ng US, Japan at Australia ang naging hakbang ng China laban sa mga barko ng Pilipinas. RNT/JGC
