Complains Chinese harassment deprives PH rightful use of its EEZ

By Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

REGULAR harassment by Chinese in the disputed South China Sea has deprived the Philippines of the rightful use of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo told a security conference in Munich, Germany over the weekend.

Speaking during a panel discussion on “Defending the United Nations (UN) Charter and the Rules-Based International Order,” Manalo said these actions had hindered Manila from maximizing the resources in its 200-nautical-mile EEZ.

“On a day-to-day basis, there are still many events occurring in the South China Sea, and there are daily incidents, at least as far as we see it, of cases of harassment or land reclamation, which in many cases have been depriving the Philippines of the use of our exclusive economic zone,” he said during the Munich Security Conference panel session on Saturday, a recorded video of which was released by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

“It is these challenges which the Philippines and other countries in our region face, especially those who have claims