MANILA, Philippines- Sa ika-walong anibersaryo ng 2016 arbitral award sa South China Sea, sinabi ng United States na nananatili itong “deeply concerned” sa pag-angkin ng China sa maritime jurisdiction ng ibang bansa.
Muli itong nanawagan sa China na itigil ang mapanganib na aksyon sa West Philippine Sea, at tumalima sa 2016 arbitral ruling na pumabor sa Pilipinas walong taon na ang nakalilipas.
“The United States remains deeply concerned about the PRC’s (People’s Republic of China) assertion of ‘territorial sovereignty’ over vast areas that are clearly within the maritime jurisdiction of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei, and where high seas freedoms of navigation and overflight apply under international law,” pahayag ni US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Hulyo 12.
Binigyang-diin ni Blinken na ang pagpapairal sa international law of the sea, batay sa 1982 Law of the Sea Convention, “is in the interest of the entire international community and remains vital to the peace, security, and prosperity of all nations.”
“We continue to call on the PRC to abide by the 2016 arbitral ruling, to cease its dangerous and destabilizing conduct, and to comport its conduct as well as its territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea to the international law of the sea as reflected in the Convention,” anang US official.
Binanggit din ni Blinken ang iba’t ibang mapanganib na aksyon ng China kabilang ang insidente kamakailan kung saan nasugatan ang isang Filipino navy officer sa resupply mission sa Ayungin Shoal.
Tinawag niya ang mga aksyong ito na “blatant disregard for international law” at sa kabuhayan at kaligtasan ng mga Pilipino.
“Over the past year, the PRC’s use of water cannons, dangerous maneuvers, and destructive tactics – including ramming, forcible towing, and boarding that has resulted in damage to Philippine vessels and injury to Philippine service members – has routinely interfered with the lawful exercise of high seas freedoms in areas where the Arbitral Tribunal determined the PRC has no lawful territorial or maritime claims,” ani Blinken.
“The PRC’s actions reflect a blatant disregard for international law as well as the safety and livelihoods of Filipinos,” patuloy ng opisyal.
Noong 2016, tinukoy sa unanimous Arbitral Tribunal sa ilalim ng 1982 Law of the Sea Convention na labag sa international law ang malawak na South China Sea maritime claims ng China.
“In its ruling, the Tribunal firmly rejected any PRC territorial or maritime claim to areas determined by the Tribunal to be part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. As provided under the Convention, the 2016 arbitral decision is final and legally binding on the PRC and the Philippines,” pagbibigay-diin ni Blinken. RNT/SA
