SENATORS from the majority and minority blocs have filed a resolution expressing grave concern over the increasing militarization by China in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

Eight senators signed Senate Resolution 761 that also urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to file a diplomatic protest against China for its recent actions in the disputed waters.

Those who signed the resolution were Senators Francis Pangilinan, Ralph Recto, Franklin Drilon, Joseph Victor Ejercito, Paolo Benigno Aquino 4th, Antonio Trillanes 4th, Risa Hontiveros and Leila de Lima.





In their resolution, the senators cited United States intelligence sources regarding China’s installation of anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems in Kagitingan (Fiery Cross) reef, Zamora (Subi) Reef, and Panganiban (Mischief) Reef in the Spratly Islands, over which the Philippines has sovereign rights based on the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

“It must not allow the People Republic of China (PRC) to continue posing a threat to Philippine interest in the WPS and the security of the region,” the resolution stated.

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. declared on Wednesday the Philippines may use force if Filipino soldiers and civilians based in areas in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) are harmed by China,

He revealed plans to build lighthouses on several islands in those territories.

He echoed President Rodrigo Duterte’s remarks that the Philippines would not go to war against China.

But if deemed necessary, Esperon said, the Philippines will look into the option of fighting back if China will coerce or hurt Filipino troops and civilians based on the islands located in disputed areas.

“We can discuss about [the West Philippine Sea] to prevent any of our soldiers and Filipino civilians from being hurt but if one soldier or civilian will get hurt, that will change, so, that is our bottomline there [since] it will always be the well-being of the Filipino that we will prioritize,” he said in a news forum in Manila.

Esperon added that war would be the “last option,” pointing out Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano’s statement that Manila will brace for war if there will be provocative actions from China.

Esperon added that there are no islands occupied by China under the Duterte administration, despite the softened stance of the President over the hotly-contested waters.

Five lighthouses on five islands in the Spratlys – Pag-asa Island, Likas (West York) Island, Parola (Northeast Cay) Island, Kota (Loaita) Island and Patag (Flat) Island – will be built, Esperon said.

The lighthouses will cost P10 million and would be manned by personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard.

The five islands are outside the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines and are more than 100 kilometers from the three reefs that allegedly have been militarized by China.

Esperon downplayed threats brought by Chinese aircraft bombers recently landing on and taking off from Woody Island, which is on the Paracel Islands claimed by Vietnam.

Agreements

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said the Duterte administration has agreed to China’s request that the Philippines stop extracting resources in the West Philippine Sea.

While the 1987 Charter allows the Philippines to enter into a co-production, joint venture, or production-sharing agreements, such agreements should only be entered with private companies at least 60 percent owned by Filipino citizens.

Despite this constitutional restriction, the President has pushed a joint exploration deal with China, a position shared by Cayetano.

“We are now working hard for a framework that would not go against the Constitution for the exploration of natural resources. We would not accept a deal lesser than what we have in Malampaya,” Cayetano said, referring to the Malampaya Deep Water Gas-to-Power Project.

During the briefing, Rep. Gary Alejano revealed that members of the Philippine Navy were being harassed by the Chinese Coast Guard in the West Philippine Sea.

Alejano said the Armed Forces has filed a complaint before the DFA.

“During a reprovisioning mission for our troops in Ayungin, LS507 of the Philippine Navy was challenged and harassed by the Coast Guard and the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China. When the Philippine Navy ship launched a rubber boat to resupply BRP Sierra Madre, a chopper of PLAN hovered in a close and dangerous distance. The PLAN chopper was so close that sea water splash entered the rubber boat,” Alejano, a former Marine captain, said.

with LLANESCA PANTI