“A baby rocket, not missile”; Locsin’s diplomatic protest vs China ridiculed
Manila, Philippines – “As if Foreign Affairs Secretary Locsin has fired a fail-deadly missile when in reality, it was only a baby rocket which won’t even harm the enemy,” according to the militant fishers’ group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) on Monday, reacting to what it called “little to no bearing” diplomatic protest filed by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) against China following reports of more than 200 Chinese ships spotted in the West Philippine Sea.
In a statement, PAMALAKAYA said Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin has “nothing to be proud” with the diplomatic protest he recently filed, as similar to previous protests, it “won’t deter Beijing’s aggression in our waters”.
“It’s ridiculous on the part of Secretary Locsin to think that the recent diplomatic protest he filed corresponds to missile launching when it was actually equivalent to a pathetic baby rocket. He thinks what he has done was momentous? It’s trivial and he should be ashamed of himself,” Fernando Hicap, PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson said in a statement.
Hicap, former Anakpawis Party-list solon said that diplomatic protests are “futile” because the United Nations (U.N.)-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) has already invalidated China’s sweeping claims over the almost entire South China Sea, which includes the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and extended continental shelf.
“Who needs a protest when we already have the international tribunal that backs our legal claim? The arbitration decision was actually the strongest legal claim and measure we could enforce against China’s continued usurpation of our territory. But unfortunately, the Duterte government is the one that doesn’t recognize and uphold our historic legal victory,” added Hicap.
“Napakarami nang diplomatic protest na isinumite sa mga nakaraan. Pero walang nangyayari dahil ang gobyerno ng Pilipinas ay tuta ng China sa kabuuan,” Hicap added.
PAMALAKAYA earlier demanded China to “sail away” from the Philippine waters as the presence of its “militia vessels” signifies display of military might bordering to military aggression. ###
