PH-China ties in jeopardy

Diplomatic protest filed over sinking of fishing boat

The Philippines might cut off diplomatic ties with China if the sinking of a Filipino vessel by a Chinese boat in the West Philippine Sea is proven to be an intentional aggressive act, Malacañang has warned on Thursday.

But for now, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the country has filed a diplomatic protest over the ship collision as the government moves to find out what really happened in the incident.

“We want to find out first. If it was intentional, ibang usapan na ‘yun...If it is intentional, it is an act of aggression,” Panelo said during a Palace press briefing.

“Ano pang step? Eh ‘di we will cut off diplomatic relations, ‘yan ang unang ginagawa ng mga… ‘pag mayroong mga aggressive acts. First, magdi-diplomatic protest ka. Kung hindi ka kuntento sa paliwanag nila at nakita natin na talagang sinadya, eh ibang usapan iyon,” he said.

Panelo said the President was “outraged” by the incident involving the Chinese ship, adding it was “likely” he would take steps similar to those taken in addressing the garbage issue with Canada.

Manila earlier sought to diminish diplomatic ties with Canada by recalling the country’s ambassador and banning official trips of government officials to the North American country until the garbage was retrieved. The garbage was eventually shipped back to Canada last month.

“Given the steps undertaken by the President on the Canada trash issue, that’s more likely...baka severe pa, hindi natin alam. Let’s leave it to the President” he said, when asked if the President will diminish or sever ties with China over the maritime incident.

Panelo, however, clarified that the government would take “calibrated” responses to the situation. He said they would wait for China’s response to the diplomatic protest over the ship collision.

A Chinese vessel hit a Filipino fishing boat near Recto Bank last June 9, leaving the fishermen stranded at sea.

A Vietnamese fishing ship later rescued all the local fishermen.

According to Panelo, the government was “condemning” the action of the Chinese vessel that rammed a Filipino boat and abandoned the distressed fishermen at sea. He said the Palace has asked China to probe the incident and impose sanctions against the Chinese crewmen who left the fishermen behind.

“We call the Chinese government to probe the incident and to impose punitive action against those at fault,” he added.

“Definitely, we will not allow ourselves to be assaulted, to be bullied, to be the subject of such barbaric, uncivilized and outrageous actions from any source,” he added.