“Fire at will,” Locsin urges DFA amidst Chinese intrusion to PH waters

Fisherfolks in Zamboanga City confirmed sightings of Chinese warships sailing along the Sibutu Strait in Tawi-Tawi which confused the locals because of its frequent presence in the area.

According to Taganak Island Mayor Moh Faizal Jamalul, fishermen in the southernmost municipality of Tawi-Tawi often spot Chinese warships cruising from the south of Sibutu to the Pearl Bank. There were also ships coming from the north between Mapun and Taganak and back to Sibutu Strait.

In an interview by Philippine Star, Jamalul said that his people were also puzzled by the presence of the warships also seen at Spot Islands near Taganak after traversing the border.

Due to the recent invasion of Chinese vessels to cross the Philippine waters without permission, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro “Teddyboy” Locsin Jr. ordered to file a fresh diplomatic protest against China for the said vessels spotted off Sibutu Strait.

Locsin ordered the Office of Asian and Pacific Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to issue a protest against Beijing after trespassing on our southern borders, specifically that of Sibutu Strait.

“Fire diplomatic protest over Chinese waship; drop the diplomatic crap; say it is ours, period; they’re trespassing,” Locsin said in a tweet. “If we did it already, fire another. We won’t run out.”

The Sibutu Strait is an internationally-recognized sea lane where foreign ships enjoy the right of innocent passage. However, despite warships found in Tawi-Tawi are not hostile, AFP Western Mindanao Command Chief Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana argued that the recent Chinese intrusions in the Philippine seas are more innocent passage due to the curved path they took.

Secretary Locsin wanted swift actions, prompting DFA to “Fire at will.” He also added that the DFA will enforce stamped visas on Chinese nationals’ passports that bear the nine-dash line map used by China to claim the West Philippine Sea, even after an international tribunal invalidated this in 2016.

“Our stamp shows the full extent of the Philippines' claims, the EEZ (exclusive economic zone). I don’t want to mention it now and get all embassies angry, but it has the farthest extent of Philippine claims to territory and we stamp that on top of the nine-dash line," Locsin said.

"If they want to avoid getting that stamp, don’t come to my country. That’s all we can do for now.”