Senators hit China's move to include disputed areas in passports

MANILA, Philippines - Senators expressed opposition on Wednesday over the “aggressive” move of the People’s Republic of China to include the disputed West Philippine Sea in the map printed on its passports.

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago described China’s move as an “affront to Philippine sovereignty.” 

“We can’t prevent China from printing any kind of passport bearing any kind of legend or photograph. That is vicious, but we have sovereign power to prevent any person from entry into Philippine territory by any entry point—sea, land or air—seaport, airport or any other means of transportation,” Santiago said.

“That would be considered as an act of aggression. That’s aggressive,” Santiago added.

Santiago said any Chinese national bearing the “questionable” passport should be denied entry to the country.

“So I don’t care what they print on their own passport because we cannot infringe on their own sovereignty but I do care as a Filipino citizen, the moment they come into our country, if they bear that kind of passport they will be acting well within our right to deny them admission into our territory. Turn them back immediately. They should be self-deported upon arrival at the airport,” the senator said.

Santiago said the Philippines should encourage a “strong regional action” over China’s latest move.

“We should take a strong regional action against this apparently miniscule controversy because it might be the beginning of a wave of protectionism in China over this territory that is included in their map,” Santiago said.

“Mamaya 'yun ang unang hakbang nila e di umpisa pa lang magreklaamo na tayo,” Santiago said.

Santiago, former chairperson of the Senate committee on foreign relations, said the Philippines should file a e diplomatic protest “although if you analyze it that is the best that we can do under the circumstances.”

“We should do as Vietnam did. We should refuse to accept those. After all, we are supreme in our territory. And the only reason we have a passport is they have to show that they are in effect authorized to enter our territory,” the senator said.

"I'm like a hawk. If I draw the line and you cross, I scream,” Santiago added.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson enjoined the country’s top foreign officials to express its massive concern and protest over China’s move.

“We should question (that) because they included disputed areas… The other countries within Asia have complained. We should also make a strong protest against (China’s) move,” Lacson said.

On the other hand, as far as  Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile is concerned, it should not be a big deal.

“If they would like to have a passport like that so what? we can also create our own passport. We can include the entire Pacific area, include some of their areas there so it doesn’t matter,” Enrile said.

China’s new passport shows the country’s map which was printed on the inside pages of the travel document.  It reveals an outline of China, which includes Taiwan and the South China Sea - a subject of disputes by its neighboring countries.