IPINATAWAG ng Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) si Chinese ambassador Huang Xilian dahil sa “illegal incursion” at “lingering presence” ng Chinese navy vessel sa Sulu Sea.
Sa isang kalatas, inanunsyo ng DFA na ipinatawag ni acting Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro si Huang matapos pumasok nang walang pahintulot sa Philippine waters ang People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) electronic reconnaissance ship, na may bow number 792, mula Enero 29 hanggang Pebrero 1.
“The Philippine Navy challenged the PLAN vessel, which claimed it was merely exercising innocent passage,” ayon sa DFA.
“However, the actions of PLAN 792 did not constitute innocent passage and violated Philippine sovereignty,” dagdag na pahayag ng departamento.
Sinabi pa nito na ang naging galaw ng Chinese navy ship “did not follow a track that can be considered as continuous and expeditious” lalo pa’t nagtagal ito ng tatlong araw sa Sulu Sea.
Napaulat din na ipinagpatuloy ng Chinese navy ship ang aktibidad nito sa Philippine waters sa kabila ng makailang ulit na ipinag-utos ng Philippine Navy na kaagad nilang lisanin ang lugar.
“In response to the incident, Acting Undersecretary Lazaro demanded that China respect Philippine territory and maritime jurisdiction, and to comply with its obligations under international law, particularly UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), and direct its vessels to desist from entering Philippine waters uninvited and without permission,” ayon sa kalatas.
Inihayag naman ng Chinese embassy sa Maynila na magpapalabas sila ng tamang pagtugon sa nasabing usapin. (CHRISTIAN DALE)
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