Hontiveros on Chinese militias in WPS: ‘Ang titigas ng ulo’

“Ang titigas ng ulo.”

That was how Senator Risa Hontiveros described the alleged Chinese militias that had been spotted off Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea and had been staying for a month.

“The Chinese vessels in Julian Felipe reef should leave immediately,” she said.

“If they are fishing vessels as China claims, then they can’t fish in our Exclusive Economic Zone without our consent. Misunderstanding nga ba o sadya na tayong niloloko?” Hontiveros said.

“The Philippines is not alone. The international community stands beside us in condemning China’s continued deceit and aggression. China better pack up and leave. The world is catching on to China’s gray zone smokescreen. How long will it keep using ‘civilian’ vessels to pursue military activities in our EEZ? A strategy based on lies and deception does not always make one sublime; sometimes, it also exposes one as lying,” she added.

“May pandemya pa tayong nilalabanan, tapos ang Tsina nanggugulo pa,” Hontiveros lamented.

“The Chinese Communist Party wants to be Asia’s leader but, instead, it has become Asia’s biggest bully. Instead of uniting the region, it has united the region against it. How long can such a regime hold any sort of mandate to lead the region?” she said.

“As I’ve said in earlier statements, the Philippine government should also already study effective ways of making China pay for her incursion. Beijing has damaged parts of our seas beyond repair and it’s only right that it pays for this irreversible destruction,” Hontiveros said.

“We need to act now. We need to expel these ‘fishing vessels’ from our EEZ and dismantle all illegal structures on the reefs and features we claim. Every delay on our end is an opportunity for China to seize what is justly and rightfully our,” she said.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)