A STAUNCH critic of President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday pressed Malacañang to immediately file a diplomatic protest against China following the unveiling of China’s monument to mark its construction work in South China Sea.
Magdalo Party-list Rep. Gary Alejano said the Duterte administration should not tolerate China.
“I call on the Duterte administration to protest this recent act of impertinence by China. The intentions of China to control the South China Sea are becoming more apparent. This administration is either naturally incompetent or deliberately turning a blind-eye if it fails to see the threat of China’s aggression,” Alejano, an oppositionist, said.
He denounced the latest Chinese activity at the WPS, saying it was “a slap to the faces of other claimant states.”
“This just shows the determination and boldness of China to continue pursuing its objectives in the SCS without respect to international laws and the sovereignty of other states,” Alejano said.
Alejano said the recently conducted military exercises in the SCS, installation of military infrastructure in the islands, and the unveiling of monument—as if to celebrate its reclamation activities—were not helping in stabilizing the situation in the region.
“The negotiations for a Code of Conduct are being taken advantage of to mask the true intent of China. Its public pronouncements cannot be trusted,” Alejano said.
For his part, Parañaque Rep. Gus Tambunting expressed hope the government would be able to handle the situation well.
“We leave the matter to the sound discretion of the DFA for appropriate action,” said Tambunting, chairperson of the House committee on games and amusement.
The Palace earlier said Tuesday it would study the possibility of lodging a diplomatic protest against China over the reported unveiling of a monument on Fiery Reef (Kagitingan) in the disputed South China Sea.
The Palace said it would lodge diplomatic action against China over the construction of a monument which some experts said would cement its claim to the disputed region.
Based from the People’s Liberation Army Daily website, it reported that the monument was unveiled last Monday at the Fiery Cross Reef on the Spratly Islands, where China has built one of its airstrips and other military facilities.
The report said the monument was one way of telling its neighbors that China was firm in protecting its territory and maritime rights.
Washington had expressed concern over the said monument and planned military construction and even caused tension among its neighbors with overlapping claims in the disputed waters.