Detained opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima on Friday announced that she has filed Senate Resolution (SR) No. 744 urging President and Commander-in-Chief Rodrigo R. Duterte to convene immediately the National Security Council (NSC) “to determine decisive courses of action” on the reported China’s militarization over the South China Sea region.
“Inaction or soft diplomatic actions are no longer options as the military activities of China over West Philippine Sea have placed the whole country under perpetual threat,” Ms. de Lima said in a statement.
She added: “The President should be presented all possible actions, including forceful diplomacy, close collaboration with allies, such as Australia, Japan, and the United States, renewed partnership with Indonesia, Vietnam, and other allies in ASEAN, and availment of other proper UN (United Nations) mechanisms.”
Ms. de Lima likewise said the NSC should “ensure” that Mr. Duterte is “presented with all available information so he could properly handle the situation” in the South China Sea.
“It is imperative that our government establish a clear policy over the militarization activities of China on the West Philippine Sea and, with the help of international community, pressure China to remove any and all facilities that threaten the security of our country and the ASEAN region,” she explained.
Meanwhile, in response to China’s militarization of the West Philippine Sea, the United States Department of Defense last Wednesday withdrew its invitation to the communist state to participate in the 2018 Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise, an international maritime warfare exercise hosted by the US.
In his press briefing on Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang said: “I have seen relevant reports. The US side linked China’s participation in the military exercise with what it perceived to be China’s actions in the South China Sea. I must seriously point out that China has indisputable sovereignty over the islands and reefs in the South China Sea and the adjacent waters. It is our inherent right as a sovereign state to carry out normal construction activities on our own territory and conduct normal military training. It is a necessary measure to safeguard our sovereign security and maintain regional peace and stability, bearing not the slightest resemblance to the so-called “militarization” that the US side has been irresponsibly accusing us of. The US has no right and no ground to accuse China on this issue.”
“I also want to stress that it is the US who proposed to enhance mil-to-mil exchanges between the two countries in the first place. If it thinks that it can blackmail China into giving up its inherent rights by manipulating one or two exchange programs, it is indulging in unrealistic thinking to no avail. No matter it is invitation or disinvitation, or whether there is this military drill or not, nothing will change China’s resolve to play a positive role in upholding peace and stability in the South China Sea region or sway its firm determination to safeguard its security and sovereign rights and interests,” he added. — Arjay L. Balinbin

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR