Recall country's ambassador to Beijing, solon urges govt.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – A Filipino lawmaker Rufus Rodriguez has urged Manila to recall the country's ambassador to Beijing, Jaime A. FlorCruz, after the recent near-collision of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel BRP Malapascua and the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG), which was witnessed by Filipino and foreign journalists aboard the BRP Malabrigo.

A photo released by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs shows Director-General of the Protocol Department of the Foreign Ministry, Hong Lei, accepting on February 24, 2023, the copy of credentials presented by newly-appointed Ambassador of the Philippines to China Jaime A. FlorCruz. (Mindanao Examiner)

According to reports, a CCG vessel cut off BRP Malapascua which was patrolling near Ayungin Shoal together with BRP Malabrigo. “We would have collided on the bow had I not cut the engine and thrown it in reverse," BRP Malapascua Commanding Officer Rodel Hernandez was quoted as satng.

Hernandez described the encounter as one between the biblical characters “David and Goliath” since the CCG vessel was more than twice the size of the 144-foot BRP Malapascua.

Rodriguez said the Philippines had filed hundreds of protest notes with Beijing regarding China's aggressive behavior and bullying in the West Philippine Sea. He said in 2022 alone, 193 protest notes were already served in Beijing, including the 65 protest notes issued by the Marcos administration.

But the solon said China has turned a deaf ear to the protests, thus the continued bullying and harassment of the Coast Guard patrols and fishermen from the northern part of the country, particularly in Pangasinan and Zambales provinces, until the south in Palawan province.

“Aside from the usual filing of a diplomatic note, we should order our principal representative in China to return home. He should not go back to Beijing until we receive a response from the Chinese government apologizing for their harassment and bullying tactics in the West Philippine Sea and committing to rectify their misconduct,” Rodriguez said.

The Philippine government has denounced the CCG’s provocative actions, while Beijing tossed the accusation at the PCG. “It’s unthinkable for a tiny craft like BRP Malapascua to provoke a huge ship like a Chinese Coast Guard patrol vessel. It defies logic," the lawmaker said in disbelief.

According to reports, the CCG has routinely harassed and bullied PCG ships and civilian boats resupplying Filipino soldiers stationed in Ayungin Shoal off Palawan, including the fishermen in Scarborough Shoal.

Rodriguez also lauded the reaction of the United States, showing support for the country after Washington warned Beijing against continued harassment in the South China Sea, saying an armed attack on Filipino armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft, including those of the Coast Guard, would invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 U.S. Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty. 

“The United States stands with the Philippines in the face of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) Coast Guard’s continued infringement upon freedom of navigation in the South China Sea,” the State Department said, adding, imagery and video recently published in the media is a stark reminder of PRC harassment and intimidation of Philippine vessels as they undertake routine patrols within their exclusive economic zone.  

“We call upon Beijing to desist from its provocative and unsafe conduct. The United States continues to track and monitor these interactions closely. The United States stands with our Philippine allies in upholding the rules-based international maritime order,” it added. 

Rodriguez said he welcomes the unequivocal, clear commitment made by the Biden administration, stressing that the reiteration of U.S. obligations under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty is reassuring to all Filipinos. (Jan Albert K. Araña, Mindanao Examiner)