MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela on Wednesday accused lawmakers and officers who defend China’s maritime claims of committing acts he described as treasonous.
In a cellphone interview with reporters, Tarriela stated those that undermine the Philippines’ place within the West Philippine Sea are betraying the nation.
“If you’re defending the place of the Folks’s Republic of China, if you’re advancing their pursuits, and in some unspecified time in the future questioning our personal place, I don’t suppose this can be a patriotic service to the Filipino folks,” he stated. “That is really treasonous. You’re thought-about a traitor already.”
Tarriela cited the 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling that favored the Philippines and invalidated China’s so-called nine-dash-line claims as proof that the nation’s maritime rights have already been legally affirmed.
He additionally referenced the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, which codifies the nation’s territorial waters, saying there may be “no want for explanations” when the regulation already protects Philippine pursuits.
Earlier this week, Senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Rodante Marcoleta clashed within the Senate over the West Philippine Sea, with the controversy centering on the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile unique financial zone (EEZ) below the arbitral ruling.
Marcoleta questioned the ruling’s authorized readability, saying it lacked exact coordinates for the EEZ and urging warning in public statements, together with references to China’s help in maritime incidents close to Scarborough Shoal. Pangilinan countered that Philippine legal guidelines and the arbitral award clearly affirm the nation’s maritime rights and invalidate China’s nine-dash-line claims.
READ: China summons PH envoy in Beijing over Tarriela’s remarks
Tarriela stated the PCG has persistently documented Chinese language incursions by movies and images exhibiting harmful maneuvers, intentional ramming, use of water cannons, large-scale unlawful reclamation, and the deployment of Chinese language maritime militia.
“All of those incidents that we now have publicized through the years are supported by images and movies,” he stated.
He additionally addressed allegations of smear campaigns or disinformation by the PCG, stressing that movies posted on-line are unique and unedited, and are supposed to inform the worldwide neighborhood moderately than escalate tensions with China.
“Personally, as a spokesperson, I don’t suppose we’re those escalating tensions or participating in a verbal tussle with the Chinese language embassy,” Tarriela stated.
Requested whether or not the PCG would proceed responding to counterclaims from Beijing, he stated, “This isn’t about escalating tensions or scary anybody. We’re merely countering falsehoods and telling the worldwide neighborhood what is basically occurring and who’s violating worldwide regulation.”
Tarriela added that Chinese language diplomats working within the Philippines ought to present sincerity and act responsibly in responding to previous statements and actions.
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His remarks echoed positions beforehand raised by Pangilinan, former Supreme Courtroom Affiliate Justice Antonio Carpio, and different authorized consultants, who’ve persistently maintained that the Philippines’ territorial claims are firmly backed by worldwide regulation and should be defended towards exterior strain. /jpv
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