Lawmakers from the European Union (EU) and 23 nations across the globe have condemned China’s aggressive activities in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Their collective condemnation is contained in a statement on “Chinese Coast Guard aggression and provocation” issued by the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), a group of parliamentarians formed on June 4, 2020 on the anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre.
The alliance aims to “help counter the threat of China’s growing influence to global trade, security and human rights.”
Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, one of two Filipino lawmakers who signed the statement, said the declaration was circulated online three days ago.
It was signed by 33 parliamentarians from the EU and 23 countries, including the Philippines, United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Netherlands, France, Norway, and Sweden, he said.
“We thank them and appreciate their support for our country, which has been at the receiving end of China’s intrusive and aggressive activities in the West Philippine Sea and inside our own 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ),” the Mindanao lawmaker said.
The other Filipino congressman who signed the statement is Adrian Michael Amatong of Zamboanga del Norte.
Meanwhile, the Chinese embassy in Manila said China is willing to work with ASEAN countries to enforce the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea as well as to guarantee peace and stability in the region.
In a statement, the Chinese embassy said China’s position over territorial issues in the region has been consistent and clear, noting that it is in line with international law, including the UNCLOS.
”We firmly safeguard our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea,” the embassy said.
It also said that China is “committed to properly managing differences through dialogue and consultation with countries concerned, and would like to work with ASEAN countries to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, advance the consultation on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the region.”
In their collective statement, the parliamentarians said, “We, the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, are united in condemning aggressive and provocative behavior by the Chinese Coast Guard around the Spratly Islands.”
It said China is seeking to impose and enforce “no trespass” rules around Second Thomas Shoal or Ayungin Shoal, which is inside the EEZ of the Philippines.
“These rules have no basis in law. On the contrary, in 2016, when asked about the matter, the Arbitral Tribunal established by the United Nations Convention on the Laws Of the Sea—to which both the Philippines and China are a party—ruled that the Shoal was in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Philippines,” the alliance said.
Despite the arbitral ruling, the group said China “seems intent to pursue an escalatory path, disrupting Filipino operations in the area, employing violent tactics, and risking conflict by testing the commitment of the United States to defend the Philippines.”
The parliamentarians reminded Beijing that “no international body recognizes their claim of jurisdiction over the Second Thomas Shoal, regardless of the outlandish assertions of the so-called Nine Dash Line.”
The IPAC applauded the Armed Forces of the Philippines “for showing restraint in the face of extreme provocation.”
They also called on their governments “to condemn Beijing’s disregard for the judgments of legitimate international bodies.”
“Finally, we call upon our governments to express solidarity for the Philippines, who are having to endure persistent and aggressive intrusions from the Chinese authorities,” the alliance said.
Other lawmakers who signed the IPAC declaration were those from Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lithuania, Ukraine, North Macedonia, Albania, Ireland, Romania, Paraguay, and Czechia.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Lawmakers from EU, 23 nations condemn China’s “aggression and provocation” in WPS.”