Robredo urges diplomatic protest over Chinese missiles

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday called on the administration to protest against China's installation of missiles on reclaimed reefs in the West Philippine Sea.

In a statement, Robredo said she is alarmed by the reports that missiles were deployed in three reefs claimed by Manila: Fiery Cross Reef (Kagitingan), Mischief Reef (Panganiban) and Subi Reef (Zamora).

She said the increased militarization is in violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of The Sea. She added that it contributes to regional instability, compromise our security, and further curtail our sovereignty.

“We urge the administration to take immediate and appropriate actions, including the filing of a diplomatic protest, to protect, what is rightfully owned by the Filipino people, in line with the ruling of the United Nations Arbitral Tribunal,” Robredo said.

“It is in the interest of all parties concerned to find a long term solution to the on-going impasse. It is critical for our government to work with our neighbors and friends who have a stake in the region to craft a just and peaceful agreement - taking into account international laws and respect for each nation's sovereignty,” she added.

READ: Philippines to exhaust diplomatic options on SCS

Robredo said that the South China Sea — part of which Manila claims and calls the West Philippine Sea —  is a major passageway for international shipping.

She said the heightened tensions in the area “will be to the detriment of all the parties concerned.”

“This area should continue to serve as an open waterway for all countries, in accordance to international laws,” the vice president said.

On Saturday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the government also found the deployment of missiles on the manmade islands in WPS “worrisome.” He added that the government would resort to diplomacy or diplomatic protest if the Department of Foreign Affairs deemed it.

 “If it is verified, of course, we view it with much concern because any form of militarization of the West Philippine Sea is worrisome, given that it is one of the busiest sea lanes of the world,” Roque  said at a press briefing in Davao City.

Roque added that there is no need at this time for the government to summon Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua to shed light on the issue.

He said the Philippines will "resort to diplomacy, resort to diplomatic protest if the (Department of Foreign Affairs) deems it fit."

'China has no right for reclamation'

Meanwhile, in a radio interview, former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, one of the members of the legal team who argued the Philippines' arbitration case before a United Nations-backed tribunal in The Hague, said China has no right to install missiles in the West Philippine Sea.

He added that China is lying because they said when they first started building shelters, they said it was for peaceful, non-military purposes.

"China has no right in that area, because Mischief Reef is ours. They have no right to reclaim that area," Hilbay was quoted as saying in Filipino in an interview with dzBB.

On July 12, 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration based in The Hague, Netherlands issued a landmark ruling invalidating China's nine-dash line claim over the disputed waters.

China has ignored the ruling and the Philippines has opted to focus on trade and investments from China instead of pressing its arbitral victory.