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'No intrusions at sea to avoid miscalculations'
By Nidz Godino
"We thank US for assurance, reiteration of commitment made by US President Joe Biden to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during their highly successful trilateral summit together with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Washington, DC last April 11," Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez urged China to stop its intrusion in West Philippine Sea (WPS) and 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines to show sincerity that Beijing really wanted to avoid "miscalculations" with United States.
In a statement, Rodriguez also welcomed assurance given by US State Secretary Antony Blinken about US' defense obligations to Philippines in case hostilities erupt in WPS.
In meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and his counterpart Wang Yi, Blinken said he "made clear that while US will continue to de-escalate tensions, our defense commitments to Philippines remain ironclad."
Blinken added he raised Beijing's statement in such meetings as "dangerous actions in South China Sea," includes WPS.
Reports showed US and China agreed to "avoid miscalculations" by continuing their dialogue on issues of conflict, including those involving South China Sea.
Rodriguez noted that China should prove true to its word by stopping its frequent intrusions into WPS and Philippines' EEZ.
"That is only way Beijing can avoid miscalculation with US, treaty-obligated to defend Philippines… also means China will have to give up sea features inside Philippines' EEZ that it has occupied, one of two of Beijing has militarized," he added.
According to the lawmaker, China should leave Scarborough Shoal, known as Bajo de Masinloc to Zambales and Pangasinan fishermen, which it "seized" in 2012, and stop harassing resupply missions to BRP Sierra Madre, Philippine military outpost in Ayungin Shoal off Palawan.
"There is no doubt that these are within our EEZ under United Nations Convention of the Law of the Seas…why China continues to claim them defies logic," Rodriguez said.
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