00:00 We will continue our discussion on the latest harassment of China in the Philippine Coast Guard.
00:05 We will continue our discussion with Atty. Jay Batombacal, maritime law expert and director of UP Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea.
00:14 Professor good afternoon.
00:15 Good afternoon to you and to all the listeners.
00:21 We have a question from a maritime law expert. We will declare him a person of non-grata, the ambassador of China here in the Philippines because he always lies.
00:34 What you are saying is different from what we see in the West Philippines. Your reaction to that, sir?
00:41 Well actually, I agree with what he said. Because since last year... Attorney, go ahead. You are being interrupted.
00:58 He's always being honest. He's always being honest since last year.
01:15 I think that's not good for the relationship between China and the Philippines. It's better if he changes his mind.
01:22 Change. Yes. We have been in talks with China several times. The Philippines is very kind.
01:31 Diplomatic, protest, everything is written. We are doing dialogue.
01:36 But China is harassing us again and again in our territory. Why is their harassment still going on?
01:46 Is their harassment really like this? We will not allow that. Attorney, right?
01:56 Attorney Jay?
01:59 Yes. That's their harassment. They want us to leave the place. That's why they are restricting our access there.
02:09 Their position is not changing. We are the ones giving them opportunities, especially during the last administration.
02:20 But they are only restricting and restricting our access to our territory.
02:26 Their launch of water cannon on our vessel, the Coast Guard, can we erase that as an armed attack to gate the Beatwad Defense Treaty against China?
02:46 Attorney? Well, that's the problem. Like what Assistant Director General Malaya said, it's debatable.
02:56 But maybe what we can do is if there is an injury, especially to our people, or if they can sink our vessel,
03:07 because they used water cannons so powerfully, maybe that's equivalent to an attack.
03:16 That's a big debate. We should really talk about it and prepare for that possibility.
03:23 So that we can invoke the mutual defense treaty, if possible, to help our units on the ground
03:32 to defend against such actions of China.
03:37 Can you explain to us the Code of Conduct Negotiation, not the issue in West Philippines?
03:45 How many years is this and who are the countries involved in this?
03:51 That's a long story. Since 1996, because of the advocacy of the Philippines to have a peaceful resolution on these disputes,
04:01 we proposed to create a Code of Conduct in 1996.
04:06 But at that time, there were only a few members of ASEAN and most of them have claims in the South China Sea.
04:15 So it fell to the Southeast Asian countries. That's why we didn't have a conflict despite our competing claims.
04:25 But the problem is China. It's been more than 20 years, 25 or almost 30 years since this discussion,
04:35 and nothing has happened. And in the meantime, ASEAN members added non-claimants.
04:41 So now the situation is different. There are more non-claimants, those who have no interest in the South China Sea.
04:48 I think that's a problem because we are not talking about negotiations.
04:55 So one possibility is that those who have concerns should be the ones to talk to China instead of the whole ASEAN.
05:03 Aside from negotiations and dialogues, what do you think are the other effective ways to stop the bullying and harassment of China to our friends?
05:17 and our countrymen in our territory, Atty.?
05:21 First, we need to show to China that we will not back down.
05:26 That's why they are hoping.
05:31 Second, it's right for us to help other countries, our fellow countrymen.
05:40 We should use it to strengthen our position, not only morally but also materially.
05:47 That's why it's important in modernization and capability building to face what China is doing to us.
05:54 Third, we should use all available forums in the international community
06:01 to leverage and mobilize the international community to help us to change their behavior and posture to China.
06:10 They should follow international law instead of doing this, forcing themselves on us.
06:17 Senator Alad Peter Quetano said that the microphone diplomacy is not good. What can you say about this?
06:26 That's true. But we saw that we are not the ones who are doing the microphone diplomacy.
06:34 It's the other side. Not only the microphone, but also the lies they are saying.
06:42 Like their claim that the US is a superior and mastermind.
06:50 So it's not just the microphone. It's also gaslighting. I think we should not give in but the other side.
06:56 Will the joint patrols from other countries help in guarding our territories?
07:03 Yes, I think it will help. That's the problem. There are too many of China.
07:10 That's why they are hoping. Their ships are too many.
07:14 They will easily overwhelm us if we are alone.
07:20 But if we have a patrol with us in the West Philippine Sea, it will really have a double meaning.
07:27 Because it's not just the Philippines that is in front of us, but many other countries.
07:31 All right. I will send a message to your panel for those who are listening and watching us now,
07:38 that we are still focused on the issue of the West Philippine Sea against China. Go ahead attorney.
07:44 Well my message is first, let's unite and defend the West Philippine Sea and the Ayungin Shoal.
07:53 That is the front line now. If the Ayungin Shoal is lost, other places in the West Philippine Sea will follow.
08:03 Because China will see that its strategy is effective. That's why we need to unite here.
08:11 We also need to continue to defend our rights in the West Philippines.
08:18 Okay. Thank you very much for your time, Attorney Jay Baton Bacal,
08:22 maritime law expert and director of the UP Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea.
