The 2016 arbitral ruling declared that Ayungin Shoal belongs to the Philippines and is well within our exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.
China has no right to dictate what we can do within our waters.
Its recent statement telling us to remove BRP Sierra Madre from the shoal is another display of utter arrogance and aggression that we must not take sitting down.
Aside from diplomatic protests, the government should step up efforts in rallying our neighbors to form a united front against China in the South China Sea. Time and again, several nations have stood by us and shared our goal of ensuring peace, stability and harmony.
Mutual respect must always be the cornerstone of our relationship with any nation.
