MANILA, Philippines – KINILALA ng Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) ang panawagan ng Senado sa departamento na dalhin sa United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) ang usapin ng pangha-harass ng mga intsik sa West Philippine Sea (WPS) at gumawa ng kaukulang hakbang sa mga aktibidad nito.
Ang pagsuporta ng DFA sa panawagan ng Senado ay matapos na i-adopt ng mga mambabatas ang resolusyon na humihikayat sa departamento na maghain ng resolusyon sa international fora at humirit ng multilateral support.
“The interest of legislators on promoting the 2016 Arbitral Award represents a national consensus on the important contribution of the Award and UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) to the Philippines as a maritime and archipelagic nation, for which the rule of law on the oceans is a key national interest,” ayon kay DFA spoeksperson Ma. Teresita Daza.
Sinuportahan ng DFA ang Senate Resolution 718 nang sabihin nito na ang batas ay “suggested actions which the executive branch [must] pursue to address the actions by China which hamper the ability of Filipinos to benefit from the resources of the WPS and interfere with legitimate enforcement operations by Philippine government vessels.”
Ani Daza, ang lahat ng future diplomatic activities na gagawin kaugnay sa aktibidad ng China ay “will be carefully assessed and calibrated to ensure that these will promote the national interest and bring optimal benefits for the country.”
“Considerations will include in bilateral and multilateral realms and the choice of modalities, fora and timing,” ayon pa rin kay Daza.
“The Philippine Government has a sustained program to promote the understanding of UNCLOS and the Arbitral Award to gain support of foreign governments for the Philippine position,” dagdag na wika nito. Kris Jose
