After several days of extensive deliberation, the Philippine Senate has officially approved and amended Senate Resolution No. 256 on Monday. This resolution strongly condemns the statements made by the Chinese Embassy in Manila, which criticized Philippine officials and institutions regarding the defense of the nation's sovereignty and rights in disputed waters.
Deliberations and Approval Process
The resolution faced delays in plenary approval due to inquiries from minority senators. However, following nearly three hours of interpellation by Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, the Senate ultimately passed the resolution without any opposition.
Key Points of the Resolution
The resolution, signed by 15 senators, asserts that the remarks by Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan violated diplomatic decorum. It states that these comments "departed from the restraint, courtesy, and responsibility expected of diplomatic communications" and contradicted the "principles of mutual respect and non-interference" among states.
Additionally, the resolution highlights that the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines criticized China's statements, which they claimed aimed to "intimidate or malign Philippine defense institutions and personnel." They emphasized that such actions would not deter their efforts.
Affirmation of Sovereign Rights
The resolution underscores that, as a sovereign state, the Philippines has the right to defend its position in accordance with international law. It clarifies that the "peaceful assertion of sovereign rights does not characterize aggression or provocation."
The Senate clarified that this resolution merely expresses the sense of the Senate regarding the Chinese Embassy's criticism, particularly its inappropriate targeting of Philippine officials and institutions performing their duties. It reinforces the Republic of the Philippines' right and responsibility to articulate and defend its official stance and national interests.
Call for Diplomatic Action
Furthermore, the Senate urged the Department of Foreign Affairs to take appropriate diplomatic steps to safeguard the "dignity of the Republic" and ensure that the Philippines' relations with other countries align with international law.
Signatories of the Resolution
The senators who signed Senate Resolution No. 256 include:
- Senate President Vicente Sotto III
- Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson
- Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri
- Senators Bam Aquino, JV Ejercito, Jinggoy Estrada, Sherwin Gatchalian, Risa Hontiveros, Lito Lapid, Loren Legarda, Francis Pangilinan, Erwin Tulfo, Raffy Tulfo, Camille Villar, and Mark Villar
