Dialogue, respect needed in West PH Sea, not aggression – Romualdez

This handout photo taken and released by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on August 19, 2024 shows damage to the Coast Guard ship BRP Cape Engano (MRRV-4411) following a collision with a Chinese coast guard vessel near Sabina Shoal in disputed waters of the South China Sea. (Photo by Handout / Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has again condemned China’s aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea, saying that dialogue and mutual respect should be pursued.

In a statement on Monday, Romualdez said the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) ships’ collision with Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels in the disputed region could have led to “tragic consequences.”

Earlier, National Security Council spokesperson Jonathan Malaya confirmed that PCG ships BRP Cape Engaño and BRP Bacagay encountered the CCG on Monday morning while delivering supplies to Lawak and Patag islands.

READ: PH vessels rammed, harassed by China anew in West Philippine Sea – Malaya

“This brazen and unwarranted aggression resulted in dangerous collisions that could have led to tragic consequences,” Romualdez said. “Deliberate actions of the China Coast Guard are a direct affront to our sovereignty and a blatant violation of international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos), to which both the Philippines and China are signatories.”

“The path forward must be one of dialogue and mutual respect, not confrontation and aggression. The safety and security of our region depend on it,” he added.

According to Romualdez, the government will continue to uphold the dignity of the country, adding that the Philippines “will continue to work with our allies and partners to ensure that the rule of law prevails in the West Philippine Sea.”

Furthermore, the Speaker said the Philippines has been seeking peace and stability in the region by exercising maximum restraint despite China’s provocations.

“However, these recent events are not mere incidents but part of a troubling pattern of behavior that escalates tensions and undermines the rule of law in the West Philippine Sea,” he said.

“It is incumbent upon us, as a nation, to stand firm in defending our rights and protecting our maritime domain,” he added.

This is not the first time that Romualdez called out China for its actions over the Indo-Pacific Region. Last June 4, the Speaker made an appeal to Beijing for the two countries to focus on commonalities instead of differences.

READ: Romualdez appeals to Beijing: Stop aggression that hurts PH-China ties

However, despite this appeal, China’s aggressive actions towards Filipino vessels have continued, prompting Romualdez to say just this August 12 that these incidents do not speak well of the Asian superpower’s ambition to be a world leader.

READ: West Philippine Sea: Romualdez hits China’s action vs PH military plane

“The Philippines will not be cowed by intimidation or coercion. Our Coast Guard vessels will continue their vital missions, including delivering supplies to our outposts in the West Philippine Sea, and we will not relent in our pursuit of protecting our national interests,” Romualdez ended.

READ: Task force steps up WPS watch amid reclamation by the Chinese