MANILA, Philippines – Naghain ng diplomatic protest ang pamahalaan ng Pilipinas laban sa illegal na presensya at aktibidad ng mga barko ng China sa exclusive economic zone at territorial sea ng bansa.
Sa pahayag, sinabi ng National Maritime Council na ang mga aksyon ng China ay malinaw na paglabag sa Philippine Maritime Zones Act (Republic Act 12064) at international law, partikular ang 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) at 2016 Arbitral Ruling na kumikilala sa sovereign rights ng Manila sa maritime zones nito.
”The Philippines strongly opposes the continued illegal presence and operations of the CCG vessels, as well as the provocative actions of the PLA-N helicopter, within the country’s maritime zones,” sinabi ng NMC.
”The escalatory actions of these Chinese vessels and aircraft clearly disregard Philippine and international laws, as their actions are inconsistent with the exercise of freedom of navigation and innocent passage as well as the exercise of rights and observance of duties by other States in the Philippines’ EEZ under the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, 1982 UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Ruling,” dagdag pa.
Ang pahayag ng NMC ay kasunod ng pagpwesto ng monster ship ng China sa EEZ ng Pilipinas, at nasa layong 97 nautical miles sa baybayin ng Zambales. RNT/JGC