Fishing agreement nina P-Duterte at Xi Jinping ng China, nabulgar, Palasyo todo-tanggi

ni Ronalyn Seminiano Reonico | April 24, 2021

Pinabulaanan ng Malacañang ang diumano'y “fishing agreement” sa pagitan nina Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte at Chinese President Xi Jinping kaugnay ng patuloy na presensiya ng mga barko ng Tsina sa West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Kamakailan ay nagpahayag si retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio na nananatili umano ang mga Chinese vessels sa WPS dahil nagkaroon ng “fishing agreement” sina P-Duterte at Jinping.

Saad pa ni Carpio, “The strong diplomatic protests filed by Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., as well as the strong warnings issued by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, are not being taken seriously by the Chinese because they know they have a fishing agreement with President Duterte.”

Pahayag naman ni Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, “There is no truth to the speculation of a purported ‘verbal fishing agreement’ between President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and President Xi Jinping, nor that Chinese vessels were encouraged to stay in West Philippine Sea despite the diplomatic protests and strongly worded statements of Philippine government officials. This is without basis and is quite simply, conjecture."

Samantala, kamakailan ay nagsampa na ng dalawang diplomatic protests ang Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) laban sa China dahil sa mga Chinese vessels na palaging namamataan sa WPS.

Saad pa ng DFA, “The continued swarming and threatening presence of the Chinese vessels creates an atmosphere of instability and is a blatant disregard of the commitments by China to promote peace and stability in the region.

“The presence of these vessels blatantly infringe upon Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction.”

DFA, nagprotesta na laban sa mga illegal na barko ng Chinese sa WPS

ni Mary Gutierrez Almirañez | April 23, 2021

Dalawang diplomatic protests ang isinampa ng Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) laban sa China hinggil sa 160 Chinese vessels na palaging namamataan sa West Philippine Sea.

Ayon sa DFA, "The vessels were observed within the territorial sea of high tide features in the Kalayaan Island Group, in the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and in and around the territorial waters of Bajo de Masinloc."

Bukod sa 160 Chinese vessels, kabilang din sa sinampahan ng diplomatic protest ang lima pang Chinese Coast Guard vessels na may bow numbers: 3103, 3301, 3305, 5101 at 5203 na namataan sa teritoryo ng Pag-asa Island, Bajo de Masinloc at Ayungin Shoal.

Paliwanag pa ng DFA, “Through these protests, the DFA reminded China that Bajo de Masinloc, Pag-asa Islands, Panata, Parola, Kota Islands, Chigua and Burgos Reefs are integral parts of the Philippines over which it has sovereignty and jurisdiction. The Philippines exercises sovereign rights and jurisdiction over Julian Felipe Reef and Ayungin Shoal."

Matatandaang ipinatawag ng DFA kamakailan si Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian upang iutos na alisin nito ang mga illegal Chinese vessels na namamalagi sa teritoryo ng ‘Pinas at para mapag-usapan ang tungkol sa international law, kabilang ang 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

"The continued swarming and threatening presence of the Chinese vessels creates an atmosphere of instability and is a blatant disregard of the commitments by China to promote peace and stability in the region," sabi pa ng DFA.

Japan at US, sanib-puwersa vs. sa mga problema sa China

ni Ronalyn Seminiano Reonico | April 17, 2021

Mas pinatatag pa ng Japan at US ang kanilang alyansa laban sa mga banta ng pananakop at upang masiguro ang seguridad at kaligtasan ng dalawang bansa.

Binisita ni Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga si US President Joe Biden noong Biyernes at kabilang sa kanilang mga napag-usapan ay ang laban kontra-COVID-19.

Nagkasundo rin ang dalawang bansa sa seguridad at pagkakaisa upang ayusin ang isyu sa East China Sea, South China Sea at ang nuclear program ng North Korea.

Pahayag pa ni Biden, "We're going to work together to prove that democracies can still compete and win in the 21st century.

"We committed to working together to take on the challenges from China and on issues like the East China Sea, the South China Sea as well as North Korea.”

Saad naman ni Suga, "We agreed to oppose any attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion in the East and South China seas and intimidation of others in the region.

"Freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law are the universal values that link our alliance.”