“To preserve our sovereignty over our territorial sea around Pagasa, the Philippines should file a diplomatic protest. Otherwise, the Philippines will be deemed to have acquiesced to China’s claim that the waters around Pag-asa belong to China under its nine-dash line claim,” pahayag ni Carpio.
Pahayag ito ni Carpio kasunod ng pagdaong ng isang dredging vessel na unang napaulat na barko ng China sa Lobo, Batangas.
Iginiit ng mahistrado na walang karapatan ang barko sa loob ng 12 nautical mile territorial sea ng Pagasa Island.
“They can only exercise innocent passage in our territorial sea — meaning these vessels must transit in a straight, continuous and expeditious passage. These vessels cannot stop, loiter or even zigzag in [and] out [of the] territorial sea,” dagdag ni Carpio.
Ayon pa kay Carpio, dapat ding iprotesta ng Pilipinas ang pagkuha ng China sa Sandy Cay at dalawa pang sandbars.
Una nang sinabi ni Foreign Affairs Sec. Teddy Locsin na naghain na siya ng diplomatic protest laban sa China pero tumanggi itong magbigay ng dagdag na detalye.