‘Continued Stay Of Chinese Ships In WPS Economic Sabotage'

By keeping hundreds of its vessels inside the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ), China is guilty of not only encroaching on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) but also of economic sabotage by a “foreign intruder,” according to a leader of the House of Representatives.

- Delon Porcalla

“Why would hundreds of ships converge in one spot for months if there is no economic gain for them? I am sure that there is something of high value underneath that they are very much interested in,” Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said.

“Something that is very valuable to them and to us. Their continued presence there indicate that they are stealing from us these valuable resources,” Barbers added.

The chairman of the House committee on dangerous drugs called on the government to “exploit, protect and keep” the resources in the large sea for purposes of the country’s “exclusive use because it is as precious as our independence as it will free the people from the bondage of poverty.”

“And it could also be the solution to the economic quagmire we are presently in,” he said, adding that he believes “these resources will bring us economic recovery.”

Barbers hinted that Executive Order 130 (Series 2021) may be utilized to extract mineral reserves in the area.

EO 130 institutionalizes and implements reforms in the mining sector, providing policies and guidelines for environmental protection and responsible mining in the utilization of mineral resources.

In a statement, Barbers also said it is not right to allow the Chinese to exploit the area while the government does nothing and just watch them extract everything for their own use.

“We should go there, make our presence felt, declare our intentions and explore it, too, for our own use. If they refuse to leave, then we should conduct our own economic activities there and stand our ground,” he said.