Senator Robin Padilla's statement that confrontation with China yields no benefits for the Philippines and that continued contestation over the WPS is futile. Such position undermines the plight of Filipino fishermen who, just weeks ago, were injured and had their boats damaged by China Cost Guard water cannons near... Escoda Shoal—incidents that highlight ongoing aggression despite diplomatic efforts. This statement is also a profound disservice to the PCG personnel who are courageously and selflessly patrolling the West Philippine Sea and who are constantly subjected to China’s bullying and dangerous actions. Our presence in these waters is not the cause of escalating tensions. We are there to prevent China from normalizing its illegal presence in the WPS while, at the same time, providing safety and security to our ordinary fishermen. As part of the senate, Sen. Padilla should recognize that the Philippines has never initiated or escalated tensions in the WPS. Instead, we have consistently been on the receiving end of China's barbaric, illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive actions, which violate the 2016 Arbitral Award and international law. While Sen. Padilla emphasizes for diplomatic dialogue, he perhaps forgot that the current administration under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has actively pursued diplomacy. President Marcos has repeatedly emphasized maintaining open communication channels with Beijing while asserting that the WPS issue does not define the entirety of Philippines-China relations. As a matter of fact, bilateral trade remains robust: China is the Philippines' top import partner and a major export destination, with trade volumes reaching billions annually despite WPS issue. On Sen. Padilla’s discussion of territorial sea and exclusive economic zones, the Philippine government broadly understands the distinction under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It is only China that refuses to accept the invalidity of its "nine-dash line," as ruled by the 2016 Arbitral Award. Sen. Padilla's vision—that Filipino fishermen fish freely in the WPS, that Philippine Coast Guard vessels no longer subjected to water cannon by the China Coast Guard, and that resources like oil and gas at Recto Bank be extracted—can only materialize if China ceases its aggression. Suggesting that the Philippines should halt its defense of rights reveals a misunderstanding: we are not "fighting" in an offensive sense but steadfastly upholding sovereign rights against bullying. It is our fishermen who truly "fight" daily—not with arms, but by pursuing their livelihood in the WPS which is now endangered daily by China’s maritime forces. The good senator must remember: standing firm is not provocation; it is patriotism and it is our obligation for the next generation of Filipinos. By the way, Vietnam is not a founding member of ASEAN; it only joined in 1995.show more

Jay Tarriela

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