Expert Melissa Loja asserts that Chinese naval aid respects Philippine sovereignty and highlights humanitarian obligations under international law.
Assistance provided by a Chinese naval vessel to a Filipino fisherman off Zambales does not violate Philippine sovereignty, according to reports from the Manila Times.
International law expert Melissa Loja stated that search and rescue operations at sea are a centuries-old obligation that predates modern maritime law. She emphasized that conventions such as the UN Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) formalize this duty, arguing that politicizing humanitarian efforts undermines the principles of maritime law.
Ms. Loja noted that freedom of navigation permits any Chinese vessel to traverse the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), just as Philippine vessels can operate within China's EEZ. She clarified that only wartime conditions would alter this freedom.
She criticized assertions that China's rescue efforts could imply a claim to sovereignty, describing such claims as a grotesque misinterpretation of international law. Ms. Loja explained that humanitarian operations are legally distinct from law enforcement actions, which are the only activities that can be considered exercises of sovereignty.
Her remarks followed criticism from the Philippine Coast Guard regarding the presence of the Chinese vessel. PCG spokesman Jay Tarriela dismissed the aid as a public relations stunt, claiming the embassy exaggerated details and failed to disclose the exact location of the incident.
Mr. Tarriela noted that the incident occurred 71 nautical miles off Zambales, within the Philippine EEZ. He added that the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLA Navy) provided only a bottle of water and biscuits and did not coordinate with the PCG.
