Senator Jinggoy Estrada, chairman of the Senate Defense Committee, has expressed concern over what he calls China’s efforts to strengthen its presence in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) amid the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, describing the moves as “unacceptable and deeply troubling.”
Estrada pointed out that significant oil and natural gas reserves remain in the WPS, and any attempt to exploit the situation while the world’s attention is focused on the Middle East “undermines the country’s sovereignty and threatens regional security as well as the rules-based international order.”
The senator stressed that while the Philippines prioritizes the welfare of its citizens affected in the Middle East and securing adequate energy supply, “we must not forget to respond with firmness and resolve to China’s provocative actions.”
He urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to immediately lodge a diplomatic protest and called on the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to strengthen patrols and highlight violations. “This is not only a matter of sovereignty—it is also an issue of energy security and the future of every Filipino,” Estrada said.
“We have fought for and won our rights at the arbitral tribunal, under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The West Philippine Sea is ours, along with the resources it contains, and we must remain steadfast in defending it,” he added,
Meanwhile, amid global oil shortages caused by tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, the Philippines has launched a multi-pronged approach, including revisiting potential talks with China on oil and gas ventures in areas such as Reed Bank.
