Members of the Philippine House of Representatives demanded over the weekend that China immediately remove a floating platform it placed in the waters of Panatag or Scarborough Shoal. The lawmakers described the structure as an unauthorized intrusion into Philippine maritime zones. They also urged compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 arbitral ruling.
Opposition Representative Leila de Lima stated that the platform’s presence constitutes an affront to Philippine sovereignty. She called on China to cease all unauthorized activities in the West Philippine Sea.
Senior Deputy Minority Leader de Lima was joined by Deputy Speakers Jay Khonghun and Paolo Ortega V, along with Deputy Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong. The group emphasized that such structures have no place in the area.
The statements come ahead of the tenth anniversary in July of the Philippines’ arbitral win against China. The representatives insisted that Beijing must honor its obligations under international law.
