NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
Zubiri: '75% Of Filipinos Want US-PH Military Partnership In West Philippines Sea'
Photo credit: WESCOM
In a recent survey conducted by Pulse Asia, Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri unveiled the results, demonstrating strong Filipino support for partnering with the United States to address territorial disputes with China in the West Philippine Sea.
The survey revealed that 75 percent of respondents were in favor of bolstering military ties between the two nations amid security tensions in the region, while 14 percent expressed opposition.
The rider question posed to survey participants was, "Are you in favor or not in favor of strengthening the military ties between the United States and the Philippines amid security tensions in the West Philippine Sea?" Of the remaining respondents, 2 percent cited insufficient knowledge to form an opinion, while 8 percent responded with "can't say."
The survey results indicate a stark disparity and signal growing discontent among Filipinos regarding China's encroachments on Philippine territory, particularly in areas such as Reed Bank, which has increasingly approached El Nido and Coron.
Senate President Zubiri commented on the data during an interview with DZBB, stating, "Napakalaki ng disparity," which translates to "The disparity is significant." He further highlighted that the survey results indicate rising frustration among Filipinos due to China's repeated incursions into Philippine waters.
Coinciding with the survey, the Philippines is celebrating the seventh anniversary of the landmark 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration, also known as The Hague, which invalidated China's claims to historic rights within the "nine-dash line" and affirmed the Philippines' rights to the West Philippine Sea within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Despite the international ruling, China has persistently violated the Philippines' EEZ, forcibly entering the area on multiple occasions.
In response to China's continued aggression, the Senate is expected to pass a resolution urging the government to bring the West Philippine Sea dispute back to the United Nations General Assembly. The resolution, proposed by Senator Risa Hontiveros, aims to protest China's actions and reinforce the Hague arbitration ruling.
Senate President Zubiri expressed his support for Senator Hontiveros' plan, stating, "We should not stop at just the arbitral ruling, but we should also follow up with the Hague on what is actually going on, on the ground, with China." He emphasized the importance of presenting evidence, including videos and photographs, showcasing China's repeated incursions and violations of the Hague's ruling, as well as its encroachments on the EEZ and international waters that impede freedom of navigation.
Zubiri expects that upon the resumption of the Senate's session, Senator Hontiveros' resolution will be debated and scheduled for plenary discussion, aiming to secure majority support for its passage.
"We should present to the UN the repeated incursions and violations of China against the Hague arbitral ruling on the West Philippine Sea. We should show the video and photographic evidence of their creeping invasion towards our country and our neighbors, with their continuous reclamation of territory within our EEZ and areas that are considered international waters, hampering the freedom of navigation," Zubiri emphasized.
The survey revealed that 75 percent of respondents were in favor of bolstering military ties between the two nations amid security tensions in the region, while 14 percent expressed opposition.
The rider question posed to survey participants was, "Are you in favor or not in favor of strengthening the military ties between the United States and the Philippines amid security tensions in the West Philippine Sea?" Of the remaining respondents, 2 percent cited insufficient knowledge to form an opinion, while 8 percent responded with "can't say."
The survey results indicate a stark disparity and signal growing discontent among Filipinos regarding China's encroachments on Philippine territory, particularly in areas such as Reed Bank, which has increasingly approached El Nido and Coron.
Senate President Zubiri commented on the data during an interview with DZBB, stating, "Napakalaki ng disparity," which translates to "The disparity is significant." He further highlighted that the survey results indicate rising frustration among Filipinos due to China's repeated incursions into Philippine waters.
Coinciding with the survey, the Philippines is celebrating the seventh anniversary of the landmark 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration, also known as The Hague, which invalidated China's claims to historic rights within the "nine-dash line" and affirmed the Philippines' rights to the West Philippine Sea within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Despite the international ruling, China has persistently violated the Philippines' EEZ, forcibly entering the area on multiple occasions.
In response to China's continued aggression, the Senate is expected to pass a resolution urging the government to bring the West Philippine Sea dispute back to the United Nations General Assembly. The resolution, proposed by Senator Risa Hontiveros, aims to protest China's actions and reinforce the Hague arbitration ruling.
Senate President Zubiri expressed his support for Senator Hontiveros' plan, stating, "We should not stop at just the arbitral ruling, but we should also follow up with the Hague on what is actually going on, on the ground, with China." He emphasized the importance of presenting evidence, including videos and photographs, showcasing China's repeated incursions and violations of the Hague's ruling, as well as its encroachments on the EEZ and international waters that impede freedom of navigation.
Zubiri expects that upon the resumption of the Senate's session, Senator Hontiveros' resolution will be debated and scheduled for plenary discussion, aiming to secure majority support for its passage.
"We should present to the UN the repeated incursions and violations of China against the Hague arbitral ruling on the West Philippine Sea. We should show the video and photographic evidence of their creeping invasion towards our country and our neighbors, with their continuous reclamation of territory within our EEZ and areas that are considered international waters, hampering the freedom of navigation," Zubiri emphasized.
Jul 18, 2023
