China's ships need to leave the West Philippine Sea, according to NGOs

 China's ships need to leave the West Philippine Sea, according to NGOs

Militant organizations demanded on Tuesday that China renounce its claims to islands based on false sovereignty and remove its ships from the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

During a demonstration in front of the Chinese consulate in Makati City, at least 150 representatives from various cause-oriented organizations made the call in opposition to Beijing's aggression against Filipino fishermen in Panatag Shoal and other regions of the nation's 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone, or EEZ.

Speaking on behalf of Pilipinong Nagkakaisa para sa Soberanya, Antonio Tinio stated that China should remove all of its ships—including its coast guard, navy, and maritime militia—from the nation's territorial seas.

"We demand that they take down the military installations they have erected in our waterways on man-made reefs. This is essential to reducing regional tensions, he declared in a statement.

According to Tinio, China's claim of sovereignty is false. It will never be recognized by the Philippines or other nations like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam that have sovereign rights to the waters of the Western Pacific Sea under international law.

According to Tinio, "China's actions against Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea are a flagrant disregard for the livelihoods and well-being of thousands of Filipino families whose livelihood depends on access to their traditional fishing grounds, as well as a violation of our sovereignty."

He denounced China's blatant disregard for international law and its infringement on the nation's sovereign rights.

In addition to China, Tinio stated that the US should demolish its military outposts and remove its troops from Philippine territory.

Chinese naval personnel who compelled Filipino fishermen to throw back their catch into the sea should be held accountable, according to the fishermen's organization Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya).

According to Fernando Hicap, the chair of Pamalakaya, China has no authority to forbid Filipinos from fishing in its territorial seas. According to him, President Marcos ought to put the black to shame for his lack of self-confidence.

According to Hicap, Marcos only depends on other foreign superpowers, which merely fuels tensions and jeopardizes fishermen's safety.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines verified yesterday that Chinese ships and maritime militia vessels in the West Philippine Sea did not pose any threat to their most recent rotation and resupply (RORE) operation to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, which was completed over the weekend.

The military, however, credited the efforts of the operational commanders who directed the mission for the effective delivery of supplies to troops on the ancient grounded battleship, despite China's accusations that it had been purposefully retreating.

According to a spokesman for the Philippine Navy for WPS Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Philippine Coast Guard and supply boat Unaizah Mae carried out the most recent RORE mission on Friday or Saturday.

The Chinese Coast Guard was present, but they didn't do anything wrong. There was a marine militia nearby that was under observation. In a briefing, he said to reporters, "I would prefer to use the presence of rather than the word shadowing.

Trinidad stated that it is "not the first time that there was no interference, no illegal moves by the maritime militia, their coast guard, or the (People's Liberation Army Navy)" and that Western Command and Naval Forces West have been rotating troops and reprovisioning forces regularly. Hence, there was absolutely no interference during any of the previous RORE missions' actions.

According to him, out of the 28 RORE missions that were conducted last year to different WPS features, fewer than half of them ran across interference from China.

Only three of the 14 operations to Ayungin Shoal in 2023, according to Trinidad, came across unlawful activity or harassment by the China Coast Guard or the marine militia.

"Everyone else proceeded without any hindrance; no illicit activities were carried out," he clarified, adding that harassment included instances involving water cannons, unlawful actions, and the presence of any non-compliant behavior that could jeopardize the crew or the ship.

"Recently, we have successfully sent provisions to our troops and to include the local community in Pag-asa Island, stationed personnel at Lawak, Kota, Likas, Parola, Panata, and Patag Islands," added AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margarete Padilla.

Resupplies were also sent to Ayungin Shoal and Rizal Reef. This is in addition to the work being done by other government organizations to fulfill their responsibility of assisting the fishermen and local communities in the WPS, the spokesperson stated.

RORE missions, according to Padilla, "are all part of the operational mix on how the commanders implement their regular rotations and resupply missions," whether they are conducted by air or sea.

"We will not be discouraged from exercising our legal rights over marine zones, including Ayungin Shoal, and ensuring the welfare of our personnel in these maritime features, despite the obstacles and challenges that may arise during the missions. Your AFP is dedicated to carrying out its responsibility as the state's and the people's guardian, Padilla declared.