HOUSE Special Committee on Bases Conversion Chairman Jay Khonghun of Zambales on Monday issued a sharp condemnation of China’s illegal presence at Sandy Cay — a territory firmly within the Philippines’ sovereign domain in the West Philippine Sea — calling it a “brazen affront” to Philippine sovereignty and international law.
“This latest move by China is a clear and deliberate violation of our sovereign rights,” Khonghun, a House Assistant Majority Leader whose province faces the West Philippine Sea, said.
“Sandy Cay belongs to the Philippines. No amount of aggressive posturing or illegal occupation can erase that fact,” Speaker Romualdez said.
China held inspection activities at Sandy Cay, a sandbar located near Pag-asa Island, sparking outrage from Filipino leaders and renewed calls for vigilance over the country’s maritime territories.
“We must call a spade a spade. China’s actions are illegal, provocative and undermine regional peace and stability,” Khonghun expressed.
Khonghun emphasized that the Philippines has consistently relied on international law, particularly the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated China’s expansive claims in the WPS, as the foundation for asserting its rightful position.
“Our nation has always sought a path of peace, grounded in the rule of law and mutual respect. But peace must never be mistaken for weakness. We have every right and every duty to defend what is ours,” Khonghun stated.
Khonghun commended the recent air defense drills conducted jointly by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the United States military in Luzon, describing them as a “timely and necessary assertion of readiness and resolve.”
“Through strong alliances and a steadfast commitment to the rule of law, we show the world that we will not yield, we will not stop asserting sovereignty over our territory and exclusive economic zone,” Khonghun stressed.
“Ang paglapastangan sa ating mga karagatan ay hindi lamang insulto sa ating bansa kundi insulto sa bawat Pilipino na naninindigan para sa kanyang bayan,” Khonghun said.
“Hindi tayo magpapatinag. Ipaglalaban natin ang karapatan ng Pilipinas sa ating soberenya, ayon sa batas at sa katotohanan,” Khonghun added.
He also urged Filipinos to unite in defense of national dignity, calling for “patriotism over apathy, and vigilance over complacency.”
Khonghun said the House of Representatives, under the leadership of Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, will continue to support all diplomatic, legal and defense efforts to uphold Philippine sovereignty.
“In defending our territory, we are not merely protecting sand and sea. We are safeguarding our history, our identity and the generations of Filipinos yet to come,” Khonghun said.
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