Senate President Urges President Marcos Jr. to Recall Chinese Ambassador Amid Rising Tensions in the West Philippine Sea

Senate President Zubiri urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to recall the Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines, Huang Xilian, back to China. This request comes in the wake of successive and recent water cannoning incidents by the China Coast Guard (CCG) against Philippine vessels on regular rotation and resupply (RORE) missions at Ayungin Shoal, as well as a humanitarian mission to Filipino fishermen at Scarborough Shoal.

Zubiri’s appeal to Marcos stems from the ongoing attacks by the Chinese government on Philippine troops stationed in the West Philippine Sea and Filipino fishermen, with little to no action taken to address the situation. He also criticized China for continuing to harass Filipinos amid a humanitarian mission, emphasizing the lack of compassion shown by the Chinese authorities.

Moreover, Zubiri highlighted the grave risks posed by China’s actions, not only causing harm to Philippine vessels but also endangering the lives of Filipino personnel on board. This call for the recall of the Chinese Ambassador reflects the escalating tensions in the region and the urgent need for diplomatic action to address the safety and well-being of Filipino nationals.