MANILA, Philippines- Winelcome ng Pilipinas ang muling pagpapatibay ng posisyon ng Group of Seven foreign ministers sa South China Sea na kinokondena ang “illicit, provocative, coercive and dangerous actions” ng Tsina.
Sa ipinalabas na kalatas ng Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), kinilala nito ang “collective position” ng G7 gaya ng nakasaad sa G7 Foreign Ministers’ Joint Statement at kanilang Declaration on Maritime Security and Prosperity na ipinalabas sa Charlevoix, Canada noong March 14.
“We acknowledge, in particular, the G7’s objection to illicit, provocative, coercive and dangerous actions, and appreciate its consistent expression of concern over the increasing use of dangerous maneuvers and water cannons against Philippine vessels in the South China Sea,” ayon sa kalatas ng DFA.
“We also acknowledge the G7’s pronouncements on the importance of coastal states refraining from unilateral actions that cause permanent physical change to the marine environment, including land reclamation and the building of outposts, and attempts to change the status quo by the establishment of new geographical facts,” dagdag ng departamento.
Sinabi pa ng DFA na ikinalulugod nila ang “consistent reaffirmation” ng G7 na ang United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) ay ang legal framework na nagsisilbing gabay sa maritime activities sa karagatan at dagat.
Kinikilala rin nito ang “consistent acknowledgment” ng G7 sa 2016 Arbitral Tribunal award na nagpapawalang-saysay sa basehan ng Tsina sa pag-angkin sa resource-rich region.
Sinabi ng DFA na “that this acknowledgement confirms the arbitral award’s “status as an unassailable part of the corpus of international law.”
“Manila is also committed to “call for the cessation of interference, obstruction and harassment of the Philippines’ legal activities within our recognized maritime entitlements,” binigyang-diin ng DFA.
Samantala, sa joint statement ng G7, kinondena nito ang aksyon ng Tsina na nagpapahina sa ‘regional peace at stability’ sa pamamagitan ng land reclamations at pagtatayo ng military outposts.
“We condemn, as well, dangerous vessel maneuvers, the indiscriminate attacks against commercial vessels and other maritime actions that undermine maritime order based on the rule of law and international law,” ayon sa mga ministers. Kris Jose
