Dear Editor,

I laud the stance of Senator JV Ejercito after he slammed China for projecting itself as the "victim" in recent incidents in the West Philippine Sea.

China's move of playing the victim in the recent incidents involving Philippine ships conducting resupply missions to BRP Sierra Madre at the Ayungin Shoal is like saying that it is not capable of such atrocities.

As the senator put it, it is wrong for the Chinese government to claim to be appropriately managing maritime differences through dialogue and consultation, as it is harassment of the state troops conducting operations within our exclusive economic zone.

Also, pointing to the obvious, China's statements are blatant lies as the world has seen what the Chinese Coast Guard and Chinese militia vessels have done to obstruct and prevent Filipino vessels during resupply missions.

Outright bullying, that's what it is.

They have the galls to say that the Philippines should "return to the right path as soon as possible, with properly handling and managing the current maritime situation as a top priority," as stated by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

It is also alarming that China is the one warning the Philippines to act with caution when it is the one instigating the incidents and then saying that China will defend its rights in accordance with the law and respond firmly.

That's despite the fact that China is the one encroaching on Philippine territories in the West Philippine Sea.

It's also disgusting to note that Wang pointed out that the "severe difficulties" facing China-Philippines relations now are "rooted in the fact that the Philippine side has changed its policy, reneged on the promises it has made, constantly provoked troubles at sea, and undermined China's legitimate and lawful rights."

In my honest opinion, I think that we did not renege on the previous promises made, as it is explicitly known that the territories China is encroaching on are really a part of the Philippines.

Ejercito blasting the Chinese foreign minister is commendable even as he stressed that the Chinese government should its expansionist policies in the West Philippine Sea and honor the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling, which rejected Beijing's nearly all-encompassing claim to the South China Sea overlapping with the WPS.

I am also one with the senator in stressing that the West Philippine Sea belongs to the Philippines and peace can be achieved if both countries acknowledge each other's maritime rights.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s assessment of Manila's diplomatic efforts with Beijing as heading "in a poor direction" underscores the necessity for a fundamental change in approach to counter China's persistent aggression in the West Philippine Sea.

I concur with the President, and I believe that while the Department of Foreign Affairs has filed 65 diplomatic protests against China's belligerent actions, the government must take further action.

We must reiterate our rights on those territories because whichever way they put it, whatever they may say, they cannot change the fact that the law recognizes our claim to those territories in the West Philippine Sea.

Anthony Baylon Jr.

kalel_bugsrj@yahoo.com