When did it happen that the Philippine Rise is an extension of South China Sea and the Philippines an extension of China? What is it this time, China?
First, China claimed some territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea and built artificial islands. The Philippines generously agreed to share its territory with China in exchange for Filipino fisherfolk freely utilizing the area. And now, after conducting a series of maritime scientific research on Philippine Rise, they want its features to be renamed after them. Isn’t it so obvious that China also wants to extend their claim up to the Philippine Rise which is not connected to the territories they are fighting for? Is the Philippines just too generous to share what it has or is China too greedy to claim all the power?
According to President Duterte, China has already acknowledged the Philippines’ sovereign rights over the Philippine Rise. But why is it that they are questioning it this time? Why is it that what they are saying do not match with what they are doing?
This only means that they don’t want to recognize nor respect the decision of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea that a coastal state has sovereign rights over its continental shelf for the purpose of exploring and exploiting its natural resources because they want to explore and exploit the Philippine Rise themselves for their own benefit.
It is clear that China is a hypocrite. China befriended the Philippines and offered its help and support to our country. In exchange, the Philippines gave China an opportunity to explore our natural resources knowing it is for the benefit of both parties but it seems like China has dark intentions and big interest on it.
Do they really want to get close to their friend or they just want to get closer to their enemy?
MARION O. SANTOS, marionsantos@gmail.com