BULLY IN SPRATLY DISPUTE
MANILA, APRIL 3, 2012
(INQUIRER) By Dona Z. Pazzibugan - Defense Secretary Voltaire
Gazmin said China was singling out the Philippines because it has the weakest
defense capability among the six nations that have laid claim to the oil-rich
Spratly Islands in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
In a news forum with defense reporters Tuesday, Gazmin was asked why China
would protest every move made by the Philippines on its claimed territory when
it does not do the same against the likes of Vietnam and Malaysia which have
also built on occupied islands.
"Maybe we're their favorite," Gazmin said. "They see that in the region in
terms of the capability of the armed forces, we are the weakest. You look at
Malaysia, they have a strong armed forces. Vietnam has a strong armed forces.
Brunei also has a strong armed forces.
"We are below par. So of course if you are going to bully, you would look for
the weakest. You do not get someone who is your equal."
The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam claim portions of the
Spratlys, which China claims entirely.
China's latest protest had to do with the Philippines' reported plan to
construct a beaching ramp on Pag-asa Island, the biggest of the
Philippine-occupied islands in the Spratlys collectively referred to as the
Kalayaan group of islands.
Kalayaan is considered a municipality of Palawan province.
"Pag-asa is ours. We have a mayor there, we have a Philippine flag. Why do we
need to ask permission from whichever country if we have to do repairs," Gazmin
asked. "If you do that, it means you doubt whether it's yours. But that is ours.
We don't have to ask permission from anyone."
Gazmin said the beaching ramp and other developmental projects planned on
Pag-asa could not be interpreted as military construction.
"Those are not for the military. That is for commercial and tourist purposes,
for our economic growth. It is not a military base although we do have a
military post there. But that is not what we will expand," he said.
He said they are concentrating on constructing a beaching ramp for now to
help the island's residents. He said it would cost about P300 million.
"We will just have to pool our resources together to be able to realize its
completion," Gazmin said.
He said after the completing the beaching ramp, they will think of how to
further develop the island, saying he was misquoted in having said that they
plan to develop Pag-asa Island as a tourist spot.
"We will first discuss where we're headed," Gazmin said, adding the island
offers many opportunities once the beaching ramp is constructed and the runway
repaired.
He said while other nations have developed their claimed islands into tourist
spots, Pag-asa could also be a regular source of fisheries and aquatic
resources.
Kalayaan Mayor Eugenio Biton-onon has said the ramp would be constructed by
the Philippine Ports Authority with the help of the Philippine Navy to help
their community.
He said the beaching ramp will allow "ro-ro" (roll-on roll-off) ships to
beach and unload their cargo directly on the island's shore.
Currently, people and supplies brought in by ships have to be transferred to
small boats and the residents then haul in the supplies by wading in the water.
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
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