MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is now considering the filing of another case against China for its “unlawful and aggressive maneuvers that caused a collision in the West Philippine Sea on Monday, the National Maritime Council (NMC) said Tuesday.
This time, the NMC is thinking of filing the case before the United Nations.
“We are looking at that, especially at the part of the Coast Guard because they know more of how to go about it,” said NMC spokesperson Alexander Lopez in a Palace press briefing.
The Philippines has recently filed a diplomatic protest against China after it fired eight rounds of flares at a Philippine Air Force plane conducting aerial patrol in Scarborough Shoal last August 8, this time, China will be meted out with another charge before an international body for the collision incident.
When asked which international body the country plans to bring the case to, Centino suggested that it might be a United Nations body.
The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea reported that early Monday, Chinese Coast Guard vessels harassed and rammed the Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Bagacay (MRRV-4410) and BRP Cape Engaño (MRRV-4411), causing damage as the ships were heading to Patag and Lawak Islands near Sabina Shoal.
The new NMC spokesperson expressed serious concern over China’s actions against the Philippines’ sovereignty but stressed that the country will stick to a diplomatic and peaceful approach instead of using aggressive tactics.
“We can never go wrong by using this diplomatic and peaceful approach and we are compliant to the Code of Conduct that we have signed in 2002 – that among others, parties will restraint ‘no, will exercise restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or even escalate the dispute in the area among others,” he said.
