JAKARTA, INDONESIA (VIA PLDT) MARCH 11, 2011 (STAR) By Delon Porcalla - Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono declared here yesterday that the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea could be turned into a "zone of cooperation" and not conflict among the claimant-nations.
"I'm sure it is open for opportunities for cooperation, and no doubt we will hope that the South China Sea does not become a place of open conflict, but in fact, become a zone of potential economic cooperation," he told reporters in a joint press conference.
"In my view, in Indonesia's view, if there is an attainment on a solution that we can agree on the issues of territories, then that is my hope. And my hope it will be attained on the issue of South China Sea," Yudyohono added.
"In this regard, through ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), we'll continue to work together to ensure security in the supply of energy in the South China Sea," he said.
The Spratly Islands covers eight islands and reefs that are believed to be rich in oil and gas deposits. The area is being claimed in whole or in part by the Philippines, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia.
Indonesia, a top oil producing country, is not among the claimant-countries.
The Philippines is also claiming oil-rich Sabah, which is currently part of Malaysian territory.
President Aquino said that joint exploration has been proposed a few decades ago, but that talks between the claimant-countries should continue, and that there should be no unilateral move from any of them.
"With regards to the Spratlys, there is no room for unilateral action, because we did unilateral action and it does not resolve the issue," he said, referring to the Baselines Law that his predecessor former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law in March 2009.
"Hopefully, with a like mind that this is a common problem and a common opportunity at the same time, we'll be able to move a little bit more forward in terms of utilizing the resources of that particular region for the benefit of all the claimant nations," he said.
Aquino told his colleagues in the 17th ASEAN Summit that was held last October in Hanoi, Vietnam, that Asian neighbors are always better off as friends than adversaries.
"The Code of Conduct (in the South China Sea) is number one (in our priority in the Spratlys issue) and perhaps an even more formalized plan towards exploiting it, perhaps on a cooperative basis," he said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) earlier said the President would also push for the creation of a binding code to prevent armed hostilities among countries with territorial claims to islets and reefs in the South China Sea.
"It will be good if no hostilities will flare up in the area and maybe the next phase should be, how do we explore the possibility that all claimant-countries can really start reaping the fruits of the potentials of this area so that it will be beneficial," Aquino said.
The DFA said that in August 2009 the United Nations had set a hearing on the territorial claims of the Philippines over the disputed Spratly Islands.
It has been reported the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) had taken up the issue in its plenary session.
The Philippines submitted its official claim on the disputed Spratlys after Arroyo signed into law the Baseline Law.
The Philippines submitted in April 2009 to the CLCS, in accordance with Article 76, paragraph 8, of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, information on the limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured in the Benham Rise region.
Senator eyes Spratlys as tourist spot
Sen. Francis Escudero, chairman of the Senate committee on national defense and security, vowed to look into proposals to develop into tourist spots some of the islands occupied by the Philippines in the disputed Spratly Islands.
"I don't think it is for the military to decide or determine but we will consider and refer the matter for study," Escudero said.
Escudero said he wants to discuss with defense and military officials the proposal, including the possible implications of making the Latag and Patag Islands as dive spots after Malaysia developed Swallow Reef into a dive spot.
He, however, expressed concerns on the security aspect of the recommendation, noting that the recent tension caused by the reported harassment by two Chinese gunboats of a research vessel of the Department of Energy (DOE) and its partner Forum Energy Philippines to conduct seismic research at the Reed Bank near the Spratlys.
Escudero made the statement after officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Western Command (Wescom) led by its commander Gen. Juancho Sabban recommended that the Latag and Patag Islands in the Philippine-occupied Kalayaan Island Group be turned into tourist spots to strengthen the country's territorial claim.
Top military officials have urged Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada to help pass legislation that would support the proposed revision of Presidential Proclamation 72 to expand the security coverage to all service contracts.
The Department of National Defense (DND) is handling the revision of PP 72.– With Christina Mendez, Jaime Laude
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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