SETS VISIT TO CHINA DESPITE SPRATLY
MANILA, JUNE
4, 2011 (PHILSTAR) There's supposed to be a declaration of a code
of conduct binding parties to the status quo in the South China Sea. Yet the
government has learned that China, which is claiming the entire sea as part of
its territory, has continued building fortifications in the disputed area.
The latest incident was on May 21 and 24, when Chinese vessels reportedly
laid steel posts and a buoy in the Amy Douglas Shoal, which lies in the West
Philippine Sea less than 100 nautical miles from the main island of Palawan. The
incident prompted the Department of Foreign Affairs to summon the chargé
d'affaires of the Chinese embassy.
VERA Files also reported that last Feb. 25, a Chinese warship, identified
later as the missile frigate Dongguan, fired three shots at three Philippine
fishing boats in Quirino Atoll off Palawan. The incident occurred shortly before
Chinese forces also reportedly shooed away a Philippine marine exploration
vessel of the Department of Energy in Reed Bank, also in the West Philippine
Sea.
China's response has been consistent: the South China Sea is part of its
territory. The Philippines and several other Southeast Asian countries plus
Taiwan are disputing this, and laying claim to some of the islands. The claims
are based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which allots
each country a 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone. The Association of
Southeast Asian Nations is firming up a regional response to Chinese activities
in the disputed areas.
Beijing prefers a bilateral settlement of disputes, but its activities near
the Philippines show what happens to this approach. China speaks of respect for
the status quo but continues its own activities. Its diplomats work to foster
friendly bilateral ties but its military conducts belligerent activities in a
disputed region. These activities go against avowed commitments to a peaceful
settlement of the disputes.
HEADLINE REPORT FROM THE MANILA STANDARD
YESTERDAY Friday, June 3, 2011
President sets visit to China despite spat over Spratlys
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (via PLDT/Smart)—President Benigno Aquino III will visit
China in the third quarter, but said the Philippines would be submitting a
report before the United Nations on at least six Chinese intrusions into
Philippine territory.
He renewed calls for a peaceful resolution to the territorial disputes in the
South China Sea, but said some of China's actions in the area were
"unjustifiable."
"We are completing the data on about six to seven instances," Mr. Aquino said
Thursday.
"We will present it to them [China] and then bring these to the appropriate
body, which most of the time is the United Nations."
Mr. Aquino also confirmed reports of another Chinese intrusion, and on the
same day he had a bilateral meeting with Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie
in Manila earlier this month.
The Foreign Affairs Department on Wednesday summoned Beijing's charge d'
affaires in Manila to complain about two Chinese ships that were said to have
intruded into the West Philippine Sea. The ships were said to have unloaded
building materials and placed a buoy in waters within Philippine territory.
The Philippines also lodged a diplomatic protest against Beijing over a March
2 incident in the Reed Bank, which is within Philippine territory, where two
Chinese patrol boats had shadowed a local exploration vessel.
Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam are claiming the
Spratly Islands in the South China Sea in whole or in part.
But Mr. Aquino said it would do no good to engage China in a verbal tussle.
"Tensions will just increase if we engage in a verbal jostle," he said. Joyce
Pangco Pañares
Chief News Editor:
Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011
by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
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