PH open to all options to address sea row with China — Bersamin

EXECUTIVE Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Tuesday said the Philippine government is considering all options, including bringing this to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), to address the country's issues with China in the West Philippine Sea.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin. MALACAÑANG PHOTO

Bersamin made the statement after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. failed to mention some issues during his second State of the Nation Address (SONA), including the several reported instances of harassment by the Chinese Coast Guard against Filipinos in the disputed waters.

“It was very clear that his speech was referring to this issue. But even if I said diplomacy is the approach that this administration will take, I am sure that the President is very firm that he will not surrender any inch of our territory or sovereignty to any foreign power,” Bersamin said on television.

Bersamin also responded to calls asking the Marcos government to raise the issue of Beijing's aggression to the UNGA in September.

If the issue is brought to the UNGA or the UN Security Council, he said that the most the Philippines can get is a resolution, which may still be ignored by China.

“We can bring that to the attention of the UN General Assembly, but all we can hope for is a resolution,” Bersamin said.

“But we are not ruling out anything because that is also part of our diplomatic tact, bringing this to the attention of the UNGA or the Security Council. Nothing is given up there, nothing is abandoned. All these options are open to us,” he added.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri had said that the upper chamber will pass a resolution urging the government to raise the issue of Beijing's aggression to the UNGA.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros backed this possible move.

She filed Senate Resolution 659 in June, calling on the government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), to sponsor a resolution before the UNGA that will call on China to stop its harassment of Filipino vessels in the West Philippine Sea.

This development came after several reports on the China Coast Guard allegedly putting at risk the lives of Filipinos who were in a resupply mission in Ayungin Shoal this year.

Early this month, the Armed Forces of the Philippines reported more than 50 Chinese vessels have swarmed the vicinity of Iroquois Reef and Sabina Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

In his SONA on Monday, Marcos remained mum on the Philippines' claim over the West Philippine Sea, but maintained that the country's independent foreign policy has been effective.