THE Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said the Chinese government is violating the sovereign rights of the Filipino people for insisting that the Ayuningin Shoal and eight other islands within the exclusive economic zone of Philippines in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) belong to China.

Pamalakaya Vice Chairman Salvador France urged China to drop what he called “immoral, illegal and substandard” claim of Beijing over Ayungin Shoal and other areas currently occupied by Chinese military forces such as the Mischief Reef, McKennan Reef, Subi Reef, Gaven Reef, Scarborough Shoal, Johnson Reef, Cuarteron Reef and Fiery Cross Reef.”

“Beijing should respect and recognize the Filipino people’s legitimate claim over these islands and bodies of waters surrounding these islands as part of the country’s territorial islands and waters,” France said.

He said Ayungin and Panatag shoals, and the rest of the seven islands on the South China Sea are inside the country’s exclusive economic zone and should not be contested by China and other countries.

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