Mervin Barbers condemns China’s brazen display of bullying, violence at WPS

A lawmaker from Mindanao today condemned anew China’s latest display of brazen bullying and violence against a Philippine Coast Guard ship patrolling at Sabina Shoal located inside the Philippine’s exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea.

Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, said the latest actuations of the China Coast Guard under “Emperor” Xi Jinping only strengthens further the Filipino’s resolve against China’s continuing unlawful and baseless claims at the disputed waters. 

“While our PCG still practices maximum tolerance, we should all stand our ground against the China Coast Guard’s brazen bullying and violence against our sailors guarding our territory and protecting our sovereignty at the WPS,” he said. 

Barbers, chair of the House’s joint Quad Committee investigating criminal activities related to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and extra-judicial killings in the past administration, money laundering and illegal drugs, issued the statement a day after China Coast Guard vessels surrounded and rammed the PCG’s flagship BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) on Saturday (August 31, 2024) at the vicinity of Escoda Shoal. 

The collisions punched a hole in the Teresa Magbanua’s hull and caused other damage. It was the seventh scuffle between the PCG and CCG in the month of August. 

Worse, Barbers said, was China’s adoption of consistent lies from past to present that the PCG had deliberately run into a Chinese coast guard vessel despite reels of video recordings that run counter to the Chinese narratives on the incident. 

“The Filipino’s hatred against China on their harassments, bullying and violence against our PCG sailors is continuously rising. And many of our neighbors from Southeast Asia and other countries are feeling the same way. I just hope it won’t hit the boiling point,” he said. 

The Sabina Shoal, located 140 kms west of Palawan, and about 1,200 kms from Hainan, the nearest major Chinese landmass, is the rendezvous point for Philippine resupply missions to the garrison on Second Thomas Shoal where the deliberately ran aground BRP Sierra Madre and Filipino troops are stationed. 

“Patuloy na inaangkin ng China ang halos lahat ng vital waterways sa WPS sa kabila ng mga claims dito ng ating ibang kalapit na bansa. Ang pag-angkin ay ginagawa ng China kahit meron nang international court ruling na wala silang legal basis dito,” Barbers said.  

The repeated confrontations between the PCG and CCG at the WPS has prompted Manila to brand Beijing as the "biggest disruptor" to peace in Southeast Asia at a defence conference in Thailand last month.

Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. (30)