Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros on Thursday dismissed China’s new version of a map called "10-dash-line" and labeled the act as "delusional."
In a statement, Hontiveros said "China is delusional," adding that the "map is Beijing’s desperate attempt to assert its lies and propaganda."
The Senator urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to coordinate with the National Resource and Mapping Authority (NAMRIA) "to update a map that clearly shows our exclusive economic zone (EEZ), continental shelves, and territorial seas in the West Philippine Sea."
She further urged the DFA to push for a diplomatic protest against China.
"We know that China is a master manipulator, willing to bend the truth for her own gain at the expense of countries like ours," Hontiveros said. "China will continue to spread fake news, fund pro-Beijing mouthpieces, and distribute propaganda materials. We must push back. We must not rest until China stops her absurdity," she said.
Meanwhile, Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri, Francis "Chiz" Escudero, and Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel likewise rejected China’s latest action.
"We should stop being affected by China’s issuances or statements. Let us not allow China to dictate the tempo by simply being reactionary. We should do what we think is right and in accordance with our national interest," Escudero said in a message to reporters.
The United Nations-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration rendered a landmark decision in July 2016 that rejected China's nine-dash line claim and endorsed the Philippines' position on matters relating to the disputed South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea.
On August 28, the Ministry of Natural Resources of China released its 2023 edition of a standard map that shows a 10-dash line overlapping the Philippines' EEZ.
