Retired AFP execs slam Chinese activities in WPS
Credit to Author: Michael Punongbayan| Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0800
MANILA, Philippines — Retired senior officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) under the group Advocates for National Interest (ANI) are calling on the government to use all the instruments of national power to address the country’s problems with China in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
In a statement, they denounced how Chinese vessels within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines have repeatedly shown impunity which should be resisted.
“We advise the adoption of a whole of nation approach, i.e. the effective use of all the instruments of national power: diplomacy, economic, informational and military to actively resist China’s aggressive actions, in conjunction with our allies, partners and friends,” ANI, chaired by retired Lt. Gen. Edilberto Adan, said.
“We firmly support the policy of the Philippine government to denounce the illegal and dangerous actions of China in the West Philippine Sea. We urge the Filipino nation to unite in resisting illegal claims in our EEZ and promote a rules-based order,” the group said.
ANI noted that China’s presence in the WPS and the harassment of Philippine ships in Ayungin Shoal conducting resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre are illegal, dangerous and should be resisted.
The group said the water cannon attack by the China Coast Guard (CCG) on Philippine resupply vessels on the way to a Philippine military outpost in the WPS and the laser-targeting of a Philippine Coast Guard ship in the past are acts of impunity repugnant to civilized nations.
“The Ayungin Shoal is part of the Philippine continental shelf and the waters over the shoal are within the Philippines’ 200-mile EEZ. The Philippines enjoys sovereign rights over them,” ANI stressed.
“The continuous presence and stationing of China Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels in the areas around Ayungin Shoal and within the Philippine EEZ violate the concept behind the freedom of navigation which only allows entry and exit but not to remain stationary,” the group said.
ANI emphasized that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Arbitral Tribunal, after an extensive examination of the Spratly Islands, had ruled that China is not entitled to have an EEZ or a continental shelf, either singly or as a unit.
“Furthermore, the Tribunal had ruled that China has no basis to claim that it has overlapping EEZ/continental shelf with the Philippines,” the retired military officials said.
ANI pointed-out that 16 countries and the European Union have recognized and expressed support for the 2016 Arbitral Ruling that invalidated China’s claim of historic rights to resources within its so called nine-dash line and which upheld the Philippines sovereign rights and jurisdiction in its EEZ.
The group said they are composed of retired senior military officers and government officials who have adopted national interest, especially relating to national defense and security, as the primary focus of its advocacy.
ANI said its members, all of whom are retired, include Gen. Renato De Villa, Col. Plaridel Abaya, Comm. Plaridel Garcia, Col. Niceto Festin, Police Gen. Recaredo Sarmiento, Lt. Gen. Raul Urgello, Col. Gerry Cunanan, Col. Mariano Santiago, Maj. Gen. Melchor Rosales, Brig. Gen. Eliseo Rio Jr., Col. Alejandro Flores, Gen. Alexander Yano, Gen. Victor Ibrado and Gen. Emmanuel Bautista.