Fr. Robert Reyes leads a thanksgiving prayer with fishermen and volunteers of “Atin Ito” Coalition aboard one of many 4 fishing vessels crusing to Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal within the West Philippine Sea on Thursday morning. (INQUIRER / RICHARD A. REYES)
MANILA, Philippines — China’s new rule that will supposedly grant its coast guard the facility to detain foreigners deemed “illegally crossing” its borders with out trial is a violation of worldwide legal guidelines, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri mentioned on Friday.
In a radio interview, Zubiri mentioned the South China Sea, together with the West Philippine Sea “are freedom of navigation lanes.”
“Clear violation of United Nations Conference on the Regulation of the Sea (UNCLOS) yan. Clear violation of the legislation of the seas, notably on the liberty of navigation,” mentioned Zubiri over Radyo 630.
“Napaka-klaro na itong lugar na ito — West Philippine Sea — South China Sea — these are freedom of navigation lanes. Dapat libre pong dumaan ang tao kahit sino po. Kahit Vietnamese, kahit Malaysian, kahit Pilipino. Kahit sino ay dapat libreng makalusot diyan at hindi dapat i-restrain, hulihin, or paalisin — kahit sino. Yan po ay napaka-klaro underneath UNCLOS,” he emphasised.
(It is vitally clear that this space — the West Philippine Sea, the South China Sea – these are freedom of navigation lanes. Anybody can move freely by way of, Vietnamese, Malaysian, or Filipino. Anybody can move by it freely they usually shouldn’t be restrained, arrested, or informed to go away. That could be very clear underneath UNCLOS.)
‘Deterioration of peace’
In the identical interview, Zubiri warned that this might result in “deterioration of peace and order” if China proceeds to behave on its coverage.
“Magkakaproblema po. Magre-react po ang mga allies, magre-react ang iba’t ibang claimant nations. And I feel magkakaroon ng complication dito sa complete setup,” he mentioned.
(We may have issues. Allies will react, claimant nations will react. And I feel there will likely be a complication in this type of setup.)
However what ought to the Philippine authorities do in mild of China’s coverage change? Zubiri mentioned the Philippines can “take it up with the United Nations.”
Zubiri mentioned the Philippine authorities can file a proper criticism and protest if China actually acts on its plan.
“[K]ung mangyari yan unlawful detention yan that’s thought-about unlawful detention,” he mentioned. (If it occurs, that’s thought-about unlawful detention.)
In the identical interview Zubiri admitted that he’s questioning if China’s coverage might set off the Mutual Protection Treaty between the United Nations and the Philippines.
He mentioned it is just a diplomatic query that is still unanswered up to now.
“Kung magkakaroon po ng what you name unlawful detention of fisherfolk, coast guard personnel, which may set off the Mutual Protection Treaty and escalate the already tense state of affairs sa West Philippine Sea. Kaya kung ako ang Tsina, huwag po sana silang magsalita ng ganyan. Hindi lamang sila ang claimant diyan,” he added.
(If the unlawful detention of fisherfolk or coast guard personnel occurs, which may set off the Mutual Protection Treaty and escalate the already tense state of affairs within the West Philippine Sea. That’s why If I had been China, I wouldn’t do that. China is just not the one claimant within the space.)
China’s continued aggression is borne out of a sweeping declare over many of the South China Sea, together with the West Philippine Sea. It, nevertheless, has lengthy been dismissed by an arbitral tribunal.
Your subscription couldn’t be saved. Please strive once more.
Your subscription has been profitable.
In 2013, the Philippines challenged China’s assertions earlier than the Everlasting Court docket of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands. It dominated overwhelmingly in favor of the Philippines in 2016.
