PRESIDENT MARCOS URGED TO SEND CHINESE ENVOY BACK TO CHINA

SENATE President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Sunday urged President Marcos to send Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian back to China following yet another use of a water cannon by Chinese vessels against Philippine vessels conducting a resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre.

Zubiri sought the ambassador’s expulsion after the China Coast Guard’s (CCG) consecutive actions against Philippine vessels over the weekend- first in the Scarborough Shoal, and now in the Ayungin Shoal.

“I urge President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. to send the current Chinese ambassador home. He has done nothing to address the continued attacks of his government on our troops and on our people,” Zubiri said.

On Sunday, the China Coast Guard (CCG) blasted three Philippine vessels with water cannons and rammed one of them, causing serious damage.

The three vessels were on a routine rotation and resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre stationed at the Ayungin Shoal.

On December. 9, the CCG also fired water cannons at three vessels of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) conducting a regular humanitarian and support mission that would provide oil and grocery packs to over 30 fishing vessels near Bajo de Masinloc.

Zubiri said the Philippine vessels that were attacked by water cannons are from (BFAR) and they were providing supplies to Filipino fishermen near Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal.

“This was a humanitarian mission, and still China chose to attack them. They have no heart,” he added.

Senator Francis Tolentino also called for the urgent recall of the Philippine Ambassador to China.

“Our nation cannot afford to maintain diplomatic complacency when our citizens are subjected to harassment and intimidation on our EEZ (exclusive economic zone).” Tolentino said.