Ipaglalaban ng gobyerno ang international tribunal ruling na nagpapatibay sa sovereign rights ng Pilipinas sa West Philippine Sea “at the proper time” kahit pa tumanggi ang China na kilalanin ang desisyon, sinabi kahapon ni National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr.

Tiniyak ni Esperon na hindi tinatalikuran ng gobyerno ang arbitration ruling, na nagbabasura sa pag-aangkin ng China sa malaking bahagi ng South China Sea, at gagamitin ito para igiit na pagmamay-ari ng bansa ang teritoryo.

Nagdesisyon ang Permanent Court of Arbitration sa Hague na walang batayang legal ang sinasabing historic rights ng tinatawag na nine-dash line ng China sa South China Sea. Ayon dito nilabag ng China ang sovereign rights ng Pilipinas nang magtayo ito ng mga artipisyal na isla, at nakialam sa fishing at oil projects nito.

Gayunman, binalewala ang China ang desisyon ng PCA noong Hulyo 2016, na napanalunan ng nakalipas na administrasyong Aquino.

“This Administration does not and will not abandon the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration on the South China Sea disputes,” saad sa pahayag ni Esperon.

“At the proper time, we will take full advantage of the tribunal ruling, even as China refuses to recognize this, to serve as basis for the country’s exercise of sovereignty and jurisdiction over features that are in the Philippine territorial waters,” dugtong niya.

Sinabi rin ni Esperon na hindi nagmimintis ang Pilipinas sa pagsasagawa ng diplomatic steps para tutulan ang militarisasyon ng China sa West Philippine Sea.

“The Philippine government continuously monitors the actions of the various claimants in the SCS/WPS (South China Sea/West Philippine Sea). We note with serious concern the growing militarization in the area, such as the deployment of military assets especially on features near the Philippine territory,” ani Esperon.

“In response to these actions, the Philippine Government has not been remiss in undertaking diplomatic actions against any nation. In particular, the Department of Foreign Affairs had been raising such issues and concerns at the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) between China and the Philippines,” dugtong niya.

-Genalyn D. Kabiling