Philippine senate steps up bipartisan support for stronger stance against ‘brazen’ China: ‘stop bullying us’

Public pressure and the Chinese Coast Guard’s actions against Philippine vessels and fishermen have prompted Philippine senators to take a firmer stance

The senate move is also in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr who has pivoted from China over the South China Sea dispute

Reading Time:5 minutes

People protest outside the Chinese consulate in Makati, Metro Manila on August 11 to condemn the water canon incident between China and Philippines Coast Guard in the West Philippine Sea. Photo: AFP

Published: 11:30am, 12 Aug 2023

The upper house of the Philippine legislature comprises some of the country’s most well-known political figures, but the 24-member body has long taken a calibrated approach in voicing views about foreign policy, abiding by a quiet bipartisan acceptance that that field is mainly the domain of the sitting president.

On August 1, however, the senate took observers by surprise with a symbolic but notable move: Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri crossed party lines to join opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros in “condemning” China’s actions against Filipino fishermen and vessels in the disputed South China Sea.

Then, the entire senate joined in and approved Senate Resolution 79 – co-sponsored by Zubiri and Hontiveros – “strongly condemning the continued harassment of Filipino fishermen and the persistent incursions in the disputed waters by the Chinese Coast Guard and militia vessels”.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr (middle), Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri (left) and House Speaker Martin Romualdez. President Marcos Jnr said he will not let China trample on his country’s maritime rights. Photo: AP

The approval came days before China’s coastguard last week blocked and fired water cannons at vessels from the Philippines that were trying to deliver food, fuel and water to Filipino troops on the BRP Sierra Madre at Second Thomas Shoal.

The World War II era vessel, which the Philippines deliberately grounded in 1999 to check China’s advance in the hotly contested waters, has long been a flashpoint between Manila and Beijing.

The latest incident also follows what observers say is a hardening of the official Philippine policy towards Beijing and its claim over the sea – through which some US$3 trillion of trade traverses annually.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, who succeeded China dove Rodrigo Duterte last year, has said he would not let China trample on his country’s maritime rights, and has also sought to strengthen defence ties with former colonial ruler and long-time ally the United States.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x