Duterte urged to raise issue of

Chinese ships in Philippines'

EEZ to Xi
ABS-CBN News
Posted at Aug 11 2019 04:36 PM

MANILA - Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Sunday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to
raise the issue of the rising number of Chinese ships in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone in
his upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Drilon made the remark after 2 Chinese survey ships were seen operating within the country's EEZ.

 2 Chinese ships conducting marine research in Philippines' EEZ: analyst

“The presence of Chinese vessels into our territories is alarming. What is more alarming is that
nobody knows what these ships are doing in our territory; even the government is clueless. They
should not have crossed our EEZ in the first place. China must be made to explain,” Drilon said in a
statement.

The senator added that "non-action by the Philippine government could be viewed as acquiescence."

Drilon, meantime, expressed support for Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, who questioned the
presence of the Chinese vessels in Philippine waters.

 Lorenzana to China: What are Chinese research vessels, warships doing in our waters?
“We commend the Secretary of Defense for all his actions to protect our territories and uphold our
claim in the West Philippine Sea. We support him and the Filipino people should rally behind him,”
he said.

Duterte is scheduled to visit China later this month — the fifth time since he assumed office in 2016
— to discuss maritime issues with Xi.

The President earlier said he will finally raise Manila’s 2016 arbitral victory, which invalidated
Beijing’s sweeping maritime claims, during his visit.

 'The time has come': Duterte to invoke PH arbitral win in fifth China visit
 China still rejects PH arbitral win in South China Sea case