HINDI hahayaang angkinin ng China ang Batanes at ang karagatang sakop ng Pilipinas, tiniyak ni Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr.
Kasunod ito ng pag-angkin ng China ng hurisdiksiyon sa Batanes matapos itaboy ng Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ang isang Chinese research vessel sa karagatan ng lalawigan.
“We will prevent it as much as to our utmost ability. We will prevent it at alalahanin natin that it is also an international strategic waterway, which (is) a global concern,” sabi ni Teodoro sa online briefing nitong Miyerkules.
Ayon sa kalihim, handang kumilos ang Department of National Defense (DND) at Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) laban sa pagtatangkang igiit ng China ang karapatan nito sa lugar.
Samantala, tumanggi si Teodoro na ibalik ang military-to-military communications sa Beijing hangga’t hindi nito itinitigil ang tinawag niyang “predatory” activities sa West Philippine Sea at iba pang karagatang sakop ng Pilipinas.
“They must prove sincerity. I mean, all their actions now, from their messaging to the messaging of their assertion of undisputed sovereignty and jurisdiction over areas where they have no rights to do so. They must turn back from that because there is no basis whatsoever in international law and in UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas). They must stop their predatory activities in the Pacific and in the WPS, which is a threat to regional and global security,” ani Teodoro.
Noong 2023, ipinahinto ni Teodoro ang military-to-military communications sa China kasunod ng mga pahayag tungkol sa umano’y “new model” arrangement sa West Philippine Sea.
Iginiit niyang tungkulin ng AFP na ipagtanggol ang karapatan ng Pilipinas alinsunod sa 2016 Arbitral Award, na tumanggi sa legal na batayan ng malawak na nine-dash-line claim ng China.
“It is directly contrary to our sovereign interests, which the (AFP) sworn to protect and to uphold,” sabi niya.
Kinuwestiyon din ni Teodoro kung bakit nais ng China na ibalik ang direktang komunikasyon ng dalawang militar gayong wala silang joint operations o Status of Visiting Forces Agreement. /Bistado