‭ ark Denniel R.

Sumague‬
M ‭ pril 22, 2024‬
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‭11 - ABM - Sy‬ ‭Mrs. Buensalida‬

‭READING AND WRITING‬

‭Over a dozen Chinese vessels spotted in Recto Bank‬

‭ ecent‬‭satellite‬‭imagery‬‭and‬‭credible‬‭reports‬‭have‬‭indisputably‬‭confirmed‬‭the‬
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‭presence‬ ‭of‬ ‭over‬ ‭a‬ ‭dozen‬ ‭Chinese‬ ‭vessels,‬ ‭including‬ ‭fishing‬ ‭boats‬ ‭and‬ ‭maritime‬
‭militia‬ ‭ships,‬ ‭operating‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭waters‬ ‭around‬ ‭Recto‬ ‭Bank,‬ ‭an‬ ‭area‬ ‭within‬ ‭the‬
‭Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea.‬

‭ he‬ ‭United‬ ‭Nations‬ ‭Convention‬ ‭on‬ ‭the‬ ‭Law‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭Sea‬ ‭(UNCLOS),‬ ‭a‬ ‭widely‬
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‭recognized‬ ‭international‬ ‭treaty,‬ ‭establishes‬ ‭the‬‭legal‬‭framework‬‭governing‬‭maritime‬
‭rights‬ ‭and‬ ‭territorial‬ ‭claims.‬‭Under‬‭UNCLOS,‬‭coastal‬‭states‬‭like‬‭the‬‭Philippines‬‭have‬
‭sovereign‬ ‭rights‬ ‭over‬ ‭their‬ ‭EEZs,‬ ‭including‬ ‭the‬ ‭exploitation‬ ‭and‬ ‭conservation‬ ‭of‬
‭marine‬ ‭resources‬ ‭within‬ ‭those‬ ‭zones.‬ ‭This‬ ‭legal‬ ‭principle‬ ‭underscores‬ ‭the‬
‭Philippines' legitimate authority over Recto Bank and its surrounding waters.‬

‭ he‬‭conspicuous‬‭presence‬‭of‬‭numerous‬‭Chinese‬‭vessels‬‭in‬‭Recto‬‭Bank‬‭raises‬
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‭grave‬ ‭concerns‬ ‭and‬ ‭underscores‬ ‭broader‬ ‭regional‬ ‭tensions‬ ‭regarding‬ ‭maritime‬
‭sovereignty‬ ‭and‬ ‭security‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭South‬ ‭China‬ ‭Sea.‬ ‭Such‬ ‭activities‬ ‭could‬ ‭potentially‬
‭escalate‬ ‭into‬ ‭disputes‬ ‭or‬ ‭even‬ ‭conflicts‬ ‭among‬ ‭claimant‬ ‭states,‬ ‭disrupting‬‭stability‬
‭and‬ ‭endangering‬ ‭the‬ ‭freedom‬ ‭of‬ ‭navigation,‬ ‭which‬ ‭is‬ ‭crucial‬ ‭for‬ ‭international‬‭trade‬
‭and commerce.‬

‭ iven‬ ‭the‬ ‭sensitive‬ ‭nature‬ ‭of‬ ‭territorial‬ ‭disputes‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭South‬ ‭China‬‭Sea,‬‭it‬‭is‬
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‭imperative‬ ‭that‬ ‭all‬ ‭parties‬ ‭involved‬ ‭exercise‬ ‭restraint‬ ‭and‬ ‭prioritize‬ ‭peaceful‬
‭resolution‬ ‭through‬ ‭diplomatic‬ ‭means.‬ ‭Constructive‬ ‭dialogue,‬ ‭adherence‬ ‭to‬
‭international‬‭law,‬‭and‬‭respect‬‭for‬‭the‬‭rights‬‭of‬‭coastal‬‭states‬‭must‬‭guide‬‭any‬‭efforts‬
‭aimed‬ ‭at‬ ‭addressing‬ ‭conflicting‬ ‭claims‬ ‭and‬ ‭ensuring‬ ‭regional‬ ‭stability.‬ ‭The‬
‭Philippines,‬ ‭as‬ ‭the‬ ‭rightful‬ ‭claimant‬ ‭to‬ ‭Recto‬ ‭Bank,‬ ‭should‬ ‭engage‬ ‭in‬ ‭robust‬
‭diplomacy‬ ‭backed‬ ‭by‬ ‭multilateral‬ ‭support‬ ‭to‬ ‭assert‬ ‭its‬ ‭rights‬ ‭and‬ ‭safeguard‬ ‭its‬
‭maritime interests.‬

‭ hile‬ ‭the‬ ‭presence‬ ‭of‬ ‭Chinese‬‭vessels‬‭in‬‭Recto‬‭Bank‬‭is‬‭a‬‭matter‬‭of‬‭concern,‬

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‭it's‬‭essential‬‭to‬‭approach‬‭the‬‭situation‬‭with‬‭a‬‭nuanced‬‭understanding‬‭of‬‭the‬‭broader‬
‭context.‬ ‭Maritime‬ ‭activities,‬ ‭including‬ ‭fishing‬ ‭and‬ ‭patrol‬‭operations,‬‭are‬‭common‬‭in‬
‭the‬ ‭South‬ ‭China‬ ‭Sea‬ ‭among‬ ‭various‬ ‭countries,‬ ‭not‬ ‭limited‬ ‭to‬ ‭China‬ ‭alone.‬
‭Furthermore,‬ ‭China‬ ‭has‬ ‭often‬ ‭emphasized‬ ‭its‬ ‭commitment‬ ‭to‬ ‭resolving‬ ‭disputes‬
‭through‬ ‭peaceful‬ ‭negotiation‬ ‭and‬ ‭dialogue.‬ ‭Therefore,‬ ‭while‬ ‭vigilance‬ ‭is‬ ‭warranted,‬
‭it's‬‭premature‬‭to‬‭attribute‬‭aggressive‬‭intent‬‭solely‬‭to‬‭the‬‭presence‬‭of‬‭Chinese‬‭vessels‬
‭in‬ ‭Recto‬ ‭Bank.‬ ‭Diplomatic‬ ‭channels‬ ‭remain‬ ‭open‬ ‭for‬ ‭constructive‬ ‭engagement‬ ‭and‬
‭resolution of any perceived differences or misunderstandings.‬