Phl: No talks with China to ease WPS tension

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is not hopeful that talks between the Philippines and China will take place unless Beijing will act sincerely and responsibly, and refrain from behavior that puts at risk the safety of personnel and vessels.

- PIA LEE-BRAGO

The DFA has been exerting efforts to rebuild a conducive environment for dialogue and consultation with China on the South China Sea.

But the DFA said "this cannot be achieved if China's words do not match their actions on the waters.

We expect China to act sincerely and responsibly, and refrain from behavior that puts to risk the safety of personnel and vessels." The Philippines condemned yesterday the "illegal and aggressive" actions of China in Ayungin Shoal on Monday, which endangered the lives of Philippine Navy personnel and damaged vessels.

In a statement, the DFA expressed grave concern over the incident in Ayungin Shoal during a humanitarian mission to BRP Sierra Madre.

"The DFA denounces the illegal and aggressive actions of Chinese authorities that resulted in personnel injury and vessel damage," the DFA said.

The DFA has reiterated its call for China to "adhere to international law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award, and respect the Philippines' sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in our own waters."

China was the hostile one in the latest incident of aggression at the Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea and was forcing its claim the United States would wage war, according to an official of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

"The People's Republic of China has once again attempted to provoke trouble in Ayungin Shoal," said PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesman for the National Task Force-West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS).

In a post on his X account last June 19, he wrote China “clearly hopes that the US will also be agitated to justify their false narrative that Washington really wants to go to war against Beijing.”

“China intentionally fails to admit that their escalatory actions in the West Philippine Sea are a big gamble that would impact not just the region but the entire global trade,” he said.