MANILA, Philippines- Sinabi ni National Security Council (NSC) Adviser Eduardo Año na ang pagpapalit ng buoys o floating marker sa West Philippine Sea (WPS) ay ginawa para sa navigational safety at binigyang katuwiran sa ilalim ng international laws.
Sa isang kalatas, sinabi ni Año na ang instalasyon pagkakabit ng buoys sa WPS ay “an act of a sovereign nation and pursuant to the Philippines’ obligations under international law.”
“As a maritime nation, it is imperative that the Philippines prioritizes the maintenance of navigational safety to ensure the protection of our waters and the people who rely on them,” ayon kay Año.
Kasunod ng ginawang pagpapalit ng Philippine Coast Guard’ sa markers sa WPS, nagtalaga ang China ng tatlong beacons sa paligid ng Spratly Islands. Ang Vietnam, sa kabilang dako, binatikos ang hakbang ng dalawang bansa, sabay sabing nilabag nito ang sovereign rights.
Ang China, Vietnam at Pilipinas ay mayroong “overlapping claims” sa South China Sea.
“with China claiming almost the entire region as its territory, based on what it says are old maps, including waters that lie within the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEC) of Vietnam , the Philippines, and other claimant countries,” ayon sa ulat.
Tinuran pa ni Año na may limang cardinal mark buoys ang inilagay sa EEZ ng Pilipinas noong nakaraang linggo.
Simula pa noong nakaraang taon, naglagay na ang Philippine Coast Guard ng navigational buoys sa WPS kabilang na ang lima na nasa vicinity waters ng Lawak, Likas, Parola, at Pag-asa.
“Neglect of navigational safety and its disruption can lead to accidents, loss of life, damage to the environment, and far-reaching consequences,” ayon kay Año.
Idinagdag pa ni Año, ang maritime borders ng Pilipinas ay “vulnerable” sa banta gaya ng “piracy, smuggling, at terrorism”, ang pagpapanatili ng navigational safety ay mahalaga para protektahan ang bansa laban sa mga banta.
Sinabi ni Año na ang buoys ay inilagay sa WPS kasama ang watawat ng Pilipinas para ipakita ang sovereign rights at jurisdiction ng Pilipinas sa EEZ, pino-protektahan ang “maritime entitlements at resources.”
“It also underscores the adherence to international statutes, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which acknowledges coastal states’ entitlement to manage their EEZs,” ani Año.
“The installation of the buoys reinforces the Philippines’ commitment to promoting peace, stability, cooperation, and the rule of law in the region,” aniya pa rin sabay sabing, “It is not done with brute force but with deliberative action buttressed by international and domestic laws.” Kris Jose
