CHINA TV NETWORK TELLS VIEWERS RP AN
INHERENT PART OF CHINA
BEIJING, MAY 11, 2012
(TRIBUNE) An anchor on China's
state-run television network has accidentally declared the Philippines as part
of China, in an embarrassing gaffe as tensions between the two nations run high.
He Jia, anchor for China Central Television's (CCTV) nationally televised
news broadcast, made the claim during a late Monday broadcast that has been
repeatedly replayed on the Internet.
The newsreader apparently meant to say the Huangyan islands — known in the
Philippines as the Scarborough Shoal (Panatag), and claimed by both nations — is
China's territory.
"We all know that the Philippines is China's inherent territory and the
Philippines belongs to Chinese sovereignty, this is an indisputable fact," he
said in the broadcast, which has since disappeared from the CCTV website but is
available elsewhere on the web.
Viewers joked in online postings that the presenter's nationalistic fervor
led to her mistake.
"This anchor woman is great, a good patriot, she has announced to the world
the Philippines belongs to China," said a microblogger named helenjhuang.
"We should attack directly, send (Philippine President) Aquino packing and
take back our inherent territory."
Another microblogger named kongdehua said, "the Philippines has
basically been making irrational trouble, if they want to start a war then we
will strike, no one fears them.
"If every Chinese spat once, we could drown (the Philippines)."
CCTV officials refused comment on He's gaff when contacted by Agence France
Presse and would not say whether the station had apologized.
When commenting on territorial disputes and separatist movements in Taiwan,
Tibet, Xinjiang and neighboring sea areas, Chinese diplomats and media routinely
claim all such areas as an "indisputable part of China's sovereignty and
territorial integrity."
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying said late Monday Beijing was ready for
"any escalation" of the maritime standoff with the Philippines that has become
one of the most high-profile flare ups over the South China Seas and its vast
oil and gas deposits in years.
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin also yesterday said the
Philippines should not act as a "beggar" and must not rely on other states in
upgrading the capability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) following
the "measly" $30-million United States foreign military financing (FMF) for the
country this year.
During the weekly Defense Press Corps (DPC) Forum, Gazmin, who had just
arrived from his US trip along with Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del
Rosario, however, welcomed any support to the ongoing AFP capability upgrade
program.
Gazmin also stressed the $30-million FMF from the US has already doubled for
this year, from its initially programmed $15 million.
"That was increased from $15 million to $30 million. We should not be relying
so much insofar as our acquisition and upgrade of our military equipment is
concerned," Gazmin said.
"If they have something to give, okay. We stand on our own, we try to stand
on our own… we're not beggars. We are poor but we certainly will not beg," he
stressed.
In the same way, Gazmin said, the DND is not totally focused on the US in
acquiring modern military hardware.
"We are not totally relying on the US, we are getting other equipment to
address our military upgrade, those good equipment that we can afford, within
our budget," he stressed.
The DND, however, is still banking on the support of the US, which earlier
stated its neutrality over territorial disputes, should a shooting war erupt in
Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal where Philippine and Chinese ships are now on a
month-long standoff.
"Article 4 of the RP-US Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) stated that it would act
to meet common dangers in accordance with constitutional process. Article 5
includes armed attack in metropolitan territory of either parties or island
territories in the Pacific Ocean, its armed force, public vessels or aircraft in
the Pacific," Gazmin cited.
He also noted the pronouncements made by US Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton during the recent RP-US 2+2 meeting in Washington between Gazmin and
Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Clinton and US Defense chief
Leon Panetta.
Gazmin admitted that the tension in Panatag Shoal was also taken up, in
passing, during the meeting.
Pressed what assistance would the US extend to the country in case the need
arises, Gazmin cited Clinton's statements, saying "that was asked to Secretary
Clinton when we had Manila Declaration, the answer was she does not answer
hypothetical question."
Relatedly, the Aquino government should now consider preparing for an armed
conflict with China and defend the country's sovereignty over the disputed
Scarborough Shoal following reports on escalating incursion by the Chinese
government on the area.
"We must prepare. We better buy war equipment. We better buy our weapons, our
means of defense," Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile yesterday said, reacting
to reports on the increased presence of Chinese vessels in the disputed area.
The military's Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) last Sunday monitored at least
33 Chinese sea craft in Panatag Shoal.
The upper chamber chief, in an interview with reporters, said such is the
next logical step for the government to take, considering that there are no
remedies or available options to amicably settle the row with China.
"That is already an indication that China is grabbing the place from us," he
said.
Senator Honasan said the government should also consider revisiting treaties
such as the MDT with the United States government. Mario J.
Mallari, Angie M. Rosales and AFP
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS
ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
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