Marine research collaboration pushed
SEN. Francis Tolentino has urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to establish research and development collaboration with maritime countries.
Tolentino saw the need for the DFA to mobilize international support after the March 23 water cannon attack by the China Coast Guard on a Philippine resupply mission in Ayungin Shoal.
“To those countries with which the Philippines have no alliance through treaties or our allies in defense, pacts or treaties, we can have joint exercises for peaceful marine science research and development,” Tolentino said in a statement on Monday.
He cited Norway, which has extensive experience in science and research on marine resources.
Norway and the Philippines have no defense treaty, he said, but the Philippines can include Norway in research and development treaties.
The Netherlands, as well as other countries in Europe and Latin America that are far from the Philippines, can be tapped for research and development collaboration.
“It will involve non-aligned countries that would seek to develop and explore the area through SCIENTIFIC AND DEVELOPMENT,” Tolentino said.
“We involve not just our ordinary allies, our regular allies in terms of defense agreements, but also non-defense allies concerned about peaceful resolutions in upholding the norms of international law,” he said.
He supports joint patrols and joint exercises with countries with which the Philippines had defense treaties.
However, Tolentino sees no end to China’s violation of the Philippines’ rights under the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea and the 2016 arbitral ruling.
The March 23 water cannon attack “is not just an isolated event. China will commit a continuing series of violations, and we expect that to happen,” he said.
“Perhaps we should ask about this: Is our nation ready for the consequences for our economy, peace and order?” Tolentino said.
He earlier recommended recalling the Philippine ambassador to Beijing in response to China’s aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea.
Tolentino also proposed to Malacañang more options to address the dispute “but deferred to undertake.”
He said the Philippines should continue to deliver supplies to the Filipino soldiers stationed at the grounded Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal by air or sea.