Ban Trump in South China Sea! – fisherfolk group

Manila, Philippines — The militant fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA-Pilipinas) on Mondayassailed the offer of United States President Donald Trump to become a mediator or arbitrator in the South China Sea dispute, saying Trump is added problem rather than solution.

Speaking in Vietnam on Sunday before heading to the Philippines to attend the 30th Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) Summit, U.S. President Trum said he was prepared to mediate between claimants to the South China Sea.

China has been imposing its irrational claim over almost 90% of the South China Sea including the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.

“Letting U.S., a known China’s rival to intervene in the sea dispute will only aggravate the tension. The U.S. has been challenging and provoking China by conducting air and sea patrol in the disputed waters.There could be no sincere mediation from a war-monger,”

“We all know that the U.S. doesn’t actually want to settle the territorial dispute peacefully, rather, they want to exploit the conflict and advance its hegemonic agenda to control the natural reserves in the South China Sea,”

“We urge President Rodrigo Duterte to reject his American counterpart’s offer and pursue a diplomatic and peaceful resolution on the sea row with Beijing,” Fernando Hicap, PAMALAKAYA Chairperson said in a statement.

The fisherfolk group joined the multisectoral protest against the ASEAN and visit of U.S. President Donald Trump in Manila. ###