DFA, Estrada reject China's claims on South China Sea incidents

The Philippines, through the DFA, rejects Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's claim that South China Sea incidents are staged by other countries, emphasizing the nation's sovereignty and actions driven by national interest.

The DFA states that China's refusal to comply with international law, specifically the 1982 UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award, is the core issue.

The DFA highlights that China's behavior in the South China Sea, including illegal and coercive actions, negatively impacts Filipino communities.

The DFA urges other nations to avoid actions and words that exacerbate regional tensions, promoting a rules-based international order.

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada rejects Wang Yi's claims, stating that China's actions in the South China Sea are illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive, including recent incursions into Philippine airspace.

Estrada emphasizes that China's repeated violations of international and domestic laws, including UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award, must not be ignored.