The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) on Monday denounced China’s recent unlawful activities in the West Philippine Sea, including dangerous maneuvers and interference with lawful Philippine operations in the area.
“These actions threaten the safety of Filipino personnel, undermine the livelihoods of Filipino fisherfolk, and interfere with the Philippines’ lawful exercise of its maritime rights,” the NTF-WPS said in a statement.
“Their recurrence demands an end to conduct that disregards international law and puts regional stability at risk,” the task force added.
It was referring to the dangerous maneuvers and interference by Chinese vessels with “lawful and routine” Philippine maritime activities in the West Philippine Sea.
The NTF-WPS also mentioned China’s unauthorized fishing and waste dumping near Philippine-occupied islands, and the conduct of maritime scientific research off Batanes.
It emphasized that the Philippines, under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, exercises sovereign rights and jurisdiction over these areas as they are well within the country’s 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf.
It said China’s unauthorized fishing within the Philippine territorial waters and exploitation of resources within the Philippines’ EEZ are in violation of Philippine laws and maritime rights.
“Marine scientific research in the EEZ and continental shelf requires the consent of the Philippines as the coastal State,” the NTF-WPS pointed out.
“Dangerous maneuvers and interference with lawful maritime activities must likewise be assessed against applicable international obligations,” the task force also said.
It noted the 2016 Arbitral Award that invalidated China’s excessive claim in the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea.
The task force said China’s assertion in the West Philippine Sea cannot override or erase the legal effect of the 2016 Arbitral Award.
“Repeated deployments and unilateral claims cannot create maritime entitlements that international law does not recognize, nor can they diminish the rights that belong to the Filipino people,” the NTF-WPS said.
The NTF-WPS commended the Philippine Coast Guard, the Armed Forces, and other relevant agencies “for their vigilance and professionalism in monitoring, documenting, and responding to these incidents.”
It reiterated the government’s commitment to protect the country’s maritime interests in the West Philippine Sea, through the conduct of lawful operations, diplomatic engagement, and “appropriate legal measures.”
“International and national law defines the rights of the Philippines, not the unilateral claims of another State. China must respect the law, cease its unlawful activities, and act in accordance with its international obligations,” the task force also said.