Philippines softens stance on South China Sea

[beijingwalker]

Philippines softens stance on South China Sea

Looks to ease tension as row with China escalates

By Barbara Mae Dacanay, Bureau Chief
Published: 00:00 July 19, 2012

Manila: The Philippines has softened its stance versus China on contested claims in the South China Sea, in deference to the peaceful mood of the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) and to the overseas development assistance recently extended by China to the Philippine government, observers said.

The purpose is to help ease tensions in the South China Sea, explained Edwin Lacierda, spokesman of President Benigno Aquino.

“In all ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian nations) meetings and in other fora, the Philippines has consistently advocated a peaceful and rules-based approach in resolving maritime territorial disputes in accordance with international law, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and has been engaging China in continuing dialogues and consultations,” explained Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Erlinda F. Basilio in a statement.

Last Tuesday, President Benigno Aquino also thanked China for its P 5.2 billion (Dh433.33 million) overseas development assistance for the creation of better water supply for 21 million residents in Metro Manila.

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The Philippine government recalled all its ships and did not send any other ship to the Scarborough Shoal (located near central Luzon) despite the continuous presence of Chinese fishing vessels in the contested area.

The Philippines claims the shoal because it is inside the country’s 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone, based on the provisions of UNCLOS.

Earlier, during the foreign ministerial meetings of ASEAN foreign ministers in Cambodia last week, the Philippines remained resolute in exploring the strength of its national interest — by insisting that its particular standoff with China over the Scarborough shoal which began in April should be mentioned in the joint communiqué at the end of the meeting.

As a result, the ASEAN foreign ministers were split and failed to reach a consensus, preventing them from signing a joint communiqué.

“The strain being felt by ASEAN is not attributable to the Philippines but it was reportedly due to the failure of the

Chair (of the meeting: Cambodia) to gain a consensus (on the issue),” explained Basilio.

Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam have all sided with the Philippines to include the dispute of Philippines versus China (or Vietnam versus China) in the foreign ministers’ joint communique, said Basilio.

But ASEAN’s division on this issue should no longer be overstretched since the ASEAN ministers have also agreed on the key elements of the proposed Code of Conduct on the South China Sea for discussion with China in September, Basilio explained.

Despite their recent deference to China, Aquino, spokesman Lacierda, and the foreign affairs undersecretary all said that the Philippines will maintain its sovereign rights over Scarborough Shoal, despite its peaceful mood in handling China’s continuous incursion on the contested shoal.

China, Taiwan, and Vietnam claim the whole of the South China Sea based on old records and the countries respective historical rights. Brunei, Malaysia, and Philippines claim some parts of the Spratly Archipelago in the South China Sea, based on the strength of UNCLOS.

The United States and other countries have called for a peaceful resolution of the South China Sea issue.

 

[Huan]

That's right, don't get ahead of yourself in challenging China. Know your place!

 

[beijingwalker]

now we can focus on Vietnam

 

[Martian2]

Vietnam and the Philippines are just like the French

Do you remember when the French took a hard line against the important role of the United States in NATO and withdrew in 1966?

Similarly, ASEAN has a serious problem with the hard line stance by Vietnam and the Philippines against China.

The obvious solution is for Vietnam and the Philippines to voluntarily leave ASEAN. Otherwise, I suggest ASEAN kick Vietnam and the Philippines out of the club.

China has provided $25 billion in aid to ASEAN. We know Cambodia and Laos are in the pro-China camp. We need to find out who else is in the China camp. China should cut off all aid money and trade preferences for any ASEAN troublemaker.

Also, no more building of Chinese dams in troublemaking ASEAN countries like the Philippines. Let them sit in the dark.

----------

China unveils $25B in ASEAN aid, credit - UPI.com

"Apr 12, 2009 – China will extend $25 billion in aid and credit to members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, officials revealed Sunday."

Amid tension, Philippines thanks China for dam project

"Philippine President Benigno Aquino on Monday thanked China for funding a 5.3-billion-peso (US$127 million) water improvement project in Angat Dam and underscored the importance of cooperation and respect among neighbouring nations."

 

[SinoChallenger]

But we are not done spanking them yet. The fun has just started.

DFA: China boats blocking PHL vessels from Panatag Shoal
BY MICHAELA DEL CALLAR July 18, 2012 9:31pm

China has blocked Philippine ships and fishing vessels from the lagoon of the disputed Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal in West Philippine Sea by setting up barriers to its entry point, a top Department of Foreign Affairs official said Wednesday.

In its boldest display of assertion to date over the area, China had placed barriers at the entrance of the lagoon of Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal, DFA Undersecretary Erlinda Basilio said.

China has reneged on its commitment to remove the barriers and also to withdraw its vessels inside the shoal, which Philippines officials say is well within Manila’s territory.

“The Philippines forged an agreement with a neighboring country for the simultaneous pullout of all vessels inside the shoal, which we undertook in good faith last June 4,” Basilio said, referring to China.

China has agreed to remove the blockade, she said.

To this day, Basilio said “the neighboring country has not fulfilled its obligations under the agreement and has maintained its ships inside and outside the shoal, as well as its barrier, in its aim to establish effective control and jurisdiction in the shoal and surrounding waters.”

The Chinese blockades comprised of a long rope and fishing nets held by buoys from end to end.

GMA News Online contacted the Chinese embassy in Manila, but there was no response as of this posting.

Several Chinese dinghies were tied together and used to block the lagoon’s entrance, Philippine officials who requested not to be named as they were not allowed to speak to the media told GMA News Online.

Manila and Beijing have been locked in a tense standoff in the area since April 10. Last month, President Benigno Aquino III pulled out Philippine vessels in the face off with Chinese ships due to bad weather.

The impasse started when Chinese ships blocked the arrest of fishermen, who were caught poaching by Philippine authorities.

China and the Philippines and are both claiming ownership over Bajo de Masinloc.

Manila says the rich fishing ground falls within its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

China, which claims almost the whole of the resource-rich West Philippine (South China) Sea, maintains Bajo de Masinloc is “an integral part of Chinese territory,” citing ancient maps to back its claim. — VS, GMA News

DFA: China boats blocking PHL vessels from Panatag Shoal