MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Apr. 22, 2014) – A Filipino youth group League of Filipino Students has condemned China’s aggressive incursion in Philippine waters and demanded Beijing to immediately withdraw its forces.
“We assert our sovereign and territorial rights over the Kalayaan group of islands and Panatag shoal and condemn China on its arrogant maneuvers in the West Philippine Sea,” LFS national chairperson Charlotte Velasco said in a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
“We are jogging the Chinese government’s memory of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea which the Philippines and China have signed in recognition that the aforesaid pieces of territory are within the 200-nautical miles of our country’s exclusive economic zone. These are our legitimate rights and the Chinese government should recognize these claims,” she said.
She said the LFS has demanded the Chinese government to back off the Philippine waters and withdraw its troops. She stressed that if the Chinese government is serious about its claims, then it should appear before the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea and Arbitral Tribunal to resolve the case wisely.
“Claiming the disputed islands through violent military measures does not prove their rightful claim on those islands but rather shows China’s desperate attempt to prevent the downfall of its economy based on neo-liberal policies of the US,” Velasco said.
Velasco also pointed out that while standing firm in the case filed by the Philippine government before the ITLOS and Arbitral Tribunal is necessary in showing our country’s unwavering stand, it is essential to reject US war-instigation in the region to peacefully and diplomatically resolve the conflict.
She stressed that in order to get the Chinese government open for bilateral and multilateral negotiations, the Philippines should resist US military intervention.
She has criticized President Benigno Aquino for inviting US forces in the country and further putting the Philippines in danger from Chinese aggression.
“Since 2011, President Aquino has been pouring oil to fire by inviting more US military intrusion and allowing US military activities in the country. Worse, the US-Aquino government is using the Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) exercises as reason to hold US military exercises over the disputed islands inciting China.”
“Despite the fact that the US has been the biggest violators of Philippine sovereignty and has incomparable heinous crimes to our people, the puppet Aquino regime has been insistent in welcoming the US show of aggression in the region making the Philippines as one of its military springboard in Asia-Pacific,” Velasco said.
Citing the Chinese publication People’s Liberation Daily that the US presence in the Philippines is creating conditions which raises the risks of armed confrontation over the disputed pieces of territory, Velasco noted that Aquino should stop relying on US militaristic and conceited methods.
She also added that the US has no intention of going to war for our country because it has more economic and political interest in China than in the Philippines.
“We refuse to be dragged into unnecessary war or even meaningless shows of military force and provocations. We can only demand peaceful resolutions with China on the basis of equality, respect, and mutual benefit only if the US is out of our country and Asia-Pacific Region,” Velasco said.
“As citizens of the county, it is our responsibility to defend our national sovereignty, patrimony, and territorial integrity against foreign domination, may it be China or the US. And in the upcoming visit of US President Obama, it is high time we get this message across through the strength of our collective action,” she added.
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