MANILA – Two senators expressed alarm over the landing of Chinese bombers on islands and reefs in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
Franklin Drilon and Risa Hontiveros urged the Duterte administration to respond, saying the move violates international rules and should be formally brought to the attention of the United Nations.
The landing of the bombers in the disputed region was part of a training exercise, the Chinese air force said in a statement.
“A division of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) recently organized multiple bombers such as the H-6K to conduct takeoff and landing training on islands and reefs in the South China Sea in order to improve our ability to ‘reach all territory, conduct strikes at any time and strike in all directions,’” the Chinese air force said.
China’s move is a “continuous violation of the international rules,” said Drilon.
“’Di pwedeng pakialaman ang ating sovereignty,” said the senator.
“Andoon na ang China kaya they are already occupying part of the Philippine territory,” he stressed. “Kung ’di natin pag-igihan ang kampanya natin, malapit na ang 2019, at the back of people’s mind, baka pakialaman na ng China ang halalan natin.”
The Chinese air force said the pilot of the H-6K bomber conducted assault training on a designated sea target, and then carried out takeoffs and landings at an airport in the area, describing the exercise as preparation for “the West Pacific and the battle for the South China Sea.”
The notice did not provide the precise location of the exercise.
China has a sweeping claim over the entire South China Sea but a 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague invalidated this, favoring the case the Philippines lodged against China.
Aside from China and the Philippines, also staking claim on disputed areas in the body of water are Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
The Philippine Senate stand united in condemning China’s action, Drilon said.
“As the foreign policy partner of the President, dapat magbuo ng matibay na paninidigan ang Senado,” he said.
“This is a challenge to the new (Senate) leadership – that we must assert the Senate rules in foreign relations, condemn this creeping invasion of our territory,” he added.
Hontiveros, for her part, urged the Duterte administration to bring this before the United Nations General Assembly.
“The Philippines must sponsor a resolution before the UN condemning China’s threat of nuclear war against the Philippines and demand that it comply with the ruling of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea arbitral tribunal,” she said.
Moreover, the government must immediately review the bilateral relations between the Philippines and China and “check if they are still faithful to our Constitution and the treaties we are part of,” she said.
The growing militarization of the disputed areas in the South China Sea is “unacceptable,” said Hontiveros.
“This is a serious threat to the lives of our citizens, an assault on our Constitution, and a direct violation of internationally recognized to which we are a signatory,” she said./PN
