Diplomatic protests still effective vs China – experts

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This March 7, 2021 photo shows Chinese maritime militia ships moored in line formation at the Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea.

 

Paolo Romero - The Philippine Star 

 

MANILA, Philippines — The successive filing of diplomatic protests against China over its aggressive acts and encroachment in the West Philippine Sea is not something to be belittled by critics and claimant countries as such efforts actually have a deterrent effect and can help strengthen the Philippines’ rights over the waters in the long term, experts told a Senate inquiry yesterday.

 

The Senate committee on foreign relations, chaired by Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, held a hearing on a bill seeking to establish the country’s maritime zones following a hostile incident last Nov. 16 where Chinese coast guard ships blocked and water cannoned Filipino boats delivering supplies to troops stationed at Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

 

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who chairs the committee on national defense and security, asked resource persons consulted on the bill on the diplomatic protests or notes verbale filed by the Philippines against China since the 2016 arbitral ruling that dismissed Beijing’s nine-dash line claim over the South China Sea was handed down.

 

Full story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/12/07/2146184/diplomatic-protests-still-effective-vs-china-experts

 

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