The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines has refused to comment on the Senate resolution expressing its grave concern over the alleged bullying of China in the West Philippine Sea.

"No statement," the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines told reporters in a Viber message. On Wednesday, the Senate adopted an unnumbered resolution on the alleged bullying.

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go called for firm action but also restraint.

The Senate resolution followed an incident last month during which the China Coast Guard reportedly forcibly took from a Philippine Coast Guard ship debris from a Chinese Long March 5B rocket that had fallen in the vicinity of the Pag-asa Islands.

"This is our Constitutional mandate — to protect and fight for what is ours," Go said, adding the nation might be lacking militarily against other claimants in the West Philippine Sea, but it should not cede even a small portion of its territory.

"What is ours is ours. Let us fight for what is ours," said Go while calling for reason to prevail in the potential flashpoint in the region.

Senator Francis Tolentino, Loren Legarda and Ronald de la Rosa also condemned the incident at the Iroquois Reef and Sabina Shoal viewed by the Department of National Defense with "great concern."

In a press conference of the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit on Wednesday (early morning Thursday in Manila), Marcos acknowledged the "strategic support" it has received from the EU to ensure in the rule of law prevails at WPS.

"We now have the support, a strategic support from not only the member countries of EU but of EU itself. now because EU and ASEAN, together comprise the largest, most well-organized regional aggrupation, then that will be a very, very strong — that will be a very, very strong position to be able to negotiate, even individually for the Philippines or jointly with ASEAN or even with the EU as perhaps as a third party for us to take action," Marcos said.

The President underscored that stronger maritime cooperation between the EU and ASEAN is necessary to successfully implement the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea over the South China Sea and the West Philippine Sea.

"This is one of the reasons that we have these conferences. [It] is to map out any possible actions that might be jointly taken because every action that might be taken that objects or brings a light to a possible violation of the UNCLOS is much stronger when it is brought about by a group of nations such as ASEAN," he said.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration at Hague, The Netherlands ruled in favor of the Philippines' petition against China after the arbitral tribunal invalidated Beijing's supposed nine-dash line claim.

Marcos is set to fly to China for a state visit in the first week of January 2023.

The President has previously said the thorny territorial dispute involving the West Philippine Sea remains his top agenda when he meets Chinese President Xi Jinping for the second time.

Western Command spokesperson Major Cherryl Tindog shared on Thursday a photo to reporters showing 12 Chinese fishing vessels flocking around the eastern part of Sabina Shoal in the WPS.

The photo was taken by the Wescom of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on 23 November 2022. Tindog likewise bared similar ships were also seen on the western part of the shoal.

The Philippine authorities again spotted the Chinese vessels on 5 December in the same area.

Faustino said all information gathered during patrols is being submitted to concerned authorities for "appropriate action."

Lade Kabagani and Michelle Guillang
@tribunephl_Lade @tribunephl_mish