KALAYAAN, PALAWAN — China issued a radio challenge on Thursday to a private aircraft carrying Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, and Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito as they approached Pag-asa Island. The challenge also targeted a Philippine Air Force plane carrying journalists covering the senators’ visit.
Visit to Pag-asa Island
The lawmakers visited Pag-asa Island, the largest in the Kalayaan Island Group, to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony of a new barracks at the Emilio Liwanag Naval Station and a Super Rural Health Unit in the municipality. During the approach, Chinese authorities issued a verbal warning, asserting that the island is Chinese territory and instructing the planes to leave.
“Yung pag-landing namin kanina meron nang mga verbal challenges and it’s so sad na nandito tayo sa loob ng ating bansa, teritoryo ng Pilipinas ito, tapos sinasabihan ka, umalis ka dito kasi ito ay teritoryo ng Tsina. Talagang nakakagulat, ano. Nakaka-alarma at nakakagalit,” Zubiri said in an interview. (Verbal challenges were issued as we were landing earlier. It’s so sad that we are here in our country, within Philippine territory, then we are told to leave because it’s a territory of China. It’s both alarming and infuriating.)
Defense Secretary’s Response
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr., who accompanied the senators, noted that China’s verbal challenges are a standard operating procedure (SOP) whenever an aircraft approaches Pag-asa Island. During the visit, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel and several Chinese militia vessels were observed three to four nautical miles from the island.
Presence of Chinese Vessels
Using a telescope at the naval station, the lawmakers saw the Chinese vessels firsthand. Naval Forces West Commander Commodore Alan Javier reported the presence of 22 Chinese militia vessels, two China Coast Guard vessels, and one People’s Liberation Army vessel in the area. This number of vessels is considered normal by Filipino forces monitoring the region.
Philippine Response
In contrast, the current Philippine deployment near Pag-asa Island includes a Navy ship and a Philippine Coast Guard vessel. During the groundbreaking ceremony, Zubiri addressed the Chinese presence directly, calling for the withdrawal of Chinese vessels from the area.
“Gusto ko lang po sabihin kung nakikinig sila, ito po ay teritoryo ng Republika ng Pilipinas. Di po inyo ito… Bago pa dumating si Magellan, atin na po ito. Kaya kung puwede, lumayas na kayo,” Zubiri declared. (I want to say to them—in case they are listening—this is the territory of the Republic of the Philippines. This is not yours… Even before Magellan arrived, this was already ours. So, please leave.)
Unified Call for Withdrawal
Villanueva and Ejercito echoed Zubiri’s sentiments, reinforcing the call for China to respect Philippine sovereignty and withdraw their vessels from the area.
Conclusion
The incident underscores the ongoing tension between the Philippines and China over territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea. The steadfast stance of Philippine lawmakers highlights the country’s resolve to assert its sovereignty and protect its territorial waters from foreign encroachments.