Philippines to stand ground vs bullying of China

[SajeevJino]

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED)

- The government will continue to “stand its ground” at the Scarborough Shoal as it continues to gather evidence on the "bullying" tactics of China, Malacanang said on Sunday.

President Benigno Aquino III insisted, however, that there are still “de-escalating” efforts to temper the standoff at the shoal.

“We don’t think that at this point in time that they will engage in any military activities… And we are --- purposely our actions have been geared towards de-escalating the situation,” Aquino said.

Five Philippine vessels are already stationed there. “We will continue to stand up and hold our ground,” the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a separate statement.

This, despite the 10 Chinese vessels posted in the area, including seven fishing boats.

The government will enforce the law up to the extent it can in so far as the Chinese fishing boats are concerned, Aquino added.

“We are documenting everything that is possible to be documented, so that when we make that case in the appropriate body, we have the necessary evidence,” Aquino added.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, meanwhile, said authorities are now gathering information on past incidents involving the bullying of China.

He told radio dzRB that all these can be brought to international tribunals.

On Saturday, a Chinese vessel sped past the two coast guard ships, creating waves that battered the ships.

The DFA accused China of employing “bullying” tactics, noting “these maneuvers by the Chinese vessel posed a danger to the Philippine vessels.”

The standoff at the Scarborough Shoal began on April 8.

China has already warned the Philippines against internationalizing the dispute.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/04/29/12/ph-stand-ground-vs-bullying-china

 

[Fanling Monk]

US to help build Philippine maritime force but won’t take sides on South China Sea dispute - The Washington Post


Well Philippines has to go as it alone, since mommy said she won't take sides.

 

[itaskol]

It belongs to China - Manila Standard Today - Daily news, current events, latest news in the Philippines
It belongs to china.., says philippines media

 

[LetsGetRowdy]

It belongs to China

The Scarborough Shoal does belong to China which discovered it and drew it in a map as early as 1279 during the Yuan Dynasty. Chinese fishermen, from both the Mainland and Taiwan, have since used it. As a matter of fact, Guo Shoujing, (the Chinese astronomer, engineer and mathematician who worked under the Mongol ruler, Kublai Khan) performed surveying of the South China Sea, and the surveying point was the Scarborough Shoal which is considered part of the Zhongsha Islands (renamed Huangyan Island in 1983).

By contrast, the “old maps” being relied upon by our Department of Foreign Affairs in its spurious claim on the same territory were drawn up only in 1820, or 541 years after China’s. I am surprised that Senator Edgardo Angara—supposedly a renowned lawyer—can claim that a map drawn 5 centuries and 4 decades after, takes precedence over the much earlier map of China.

So, what exactly was the territory we declared independence from the US in 1946? Why is it that NONE of our constitutions, past and present, from 1899, 1935, 1943, 1973, 1986 and 1987, include either the Spratlys or the Scarborough Shoal within our declared national territory? Where, or from whom, did we, all of a sudden, acquire title to these? Out of thin air?



Victor N. Arches II
Manila Standard Today

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2012/04/28/it-belongs-to-china/

 

[Fanling Monk]

According to Treaty of Paris(1898) between the United States and Spain, Treaty of Washington(1900) between Spain and the United States, Treaty between Great Britain and the United States(1930), Constitution of the Philippines (1935), Republic Act No. 3046 "Act to Define the Baselines of the Territorial Sea of the Philippines"(1961), and all the maps published by Philippines official until 1990s, 118th degree meridian of longitude east of Greenwich is the territorial limit line of Philippines. Scarborough Shoal is obvious outside this limits, and Philippines has never made claim or put dispute on Scarborough Shoal, which is internationally recognized as teritory of China. But in the following years, Philippines made an unilateral decision to include Scarborough Shoal as its territory, ignoring China's opposition.

Most Philippines maps published by Spain and United States in 18th and 19th century does not show Scarborough Shoal or show it as foreign territory, for example, in the same color as Malaysia and China.

Several Spanish Maps predate in 1734 and 1900 showing the Scarborough Shoal not the Philippine Territory http://www.zamboanga.net/murillomap3.jpg (there is no Scarborough Shoal in this map) and http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa281/manileno/panatag.jpg (the color of Scarborough Shoal is white, the same as Malaysia and China, thus the foreigh territory.)

 

[avene]

self deleted

 

[Ammyy]

China has already warned the Philippines against internationalizing the dispute.

Why??? Do they afraid of USA ?

I think USA is the only option for all small countries of SCS.... After that China dnt dare to touch any one

 

[nithin]

China needs a spank at this point of time.. it must be brought to its knees

 

[LetsGetRowdy]

China should just bomb the Philippines to teach other countries a lesson. It would work.

like what the usa did to iraq and afganistan?

 

[Oldman1]

like what the usa did to iraq and afganistan?

Exactly! Whats the point of having a military only to not use it to defend its interests.

 

[Rechoice]

like what the usa did to iraq and afganistan?

US attack terrorists, don't take a land and sea.

 

[itaskol]

Exactly! Whats the point of having a military only to not use it to defend its interests.

military action is the last option.

 

[EastSea]

Philippines asks US for radars, patrol boats and aircraft
Agence France-Presse
7:09 am | Thursday, May 3rd, 2012

WASHINGTON—The Philippines said Wednesday it has asked the United States to supply its armed forces with patrol boats and aircraft as well as radar systems amid an escalating territorial dispute with China.

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario. AP
Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said the hardware would help his country achieve a “minimum credible defense,” a phrase he used in unprecedented talks with senior US officials in Washington earlier this week.
“We need to know what’s going on around us. That’s maritime domain awareness,” del Rosario said in answer to a question following a speech at The Heritage Foundation think tank.
“And we also need to deter any additional incursions into our seas where we have sovereign rights,” the chief Philippine diplomat said, referring to its dispute with China in the South China Sea.
“We are submitting a list of hardware that the US can help us out with. This would be in terms of patrol vessels, patrol aircraft, radar systems, coast watch stations,” del Rosario said.
“We’re looking for assistance from other international partners who have also been very forthcoming,” he added.

http://http://globalnation.inquirer.net/35635/philippines-asks-us-for-radars-patrol-boats-and-aircraft

 

[p3avi8tor69]

Philippines asks US for radars, patrol boats and aircraft
Agence France-Presse
7:09 am | Thursday, May 3rd, 2012

[/URL]

I read they have close to a 100 billion dollars in reserves, yet, they chose to beg than buy.

 

[itaskol]

Filipino students attack US embassy to protest war games near South China Sea | Mail Online

Student activists protesting Balikatan deface US embassy seal - The Philippine Star » News » Headlines

Filipino are going to lose their mind.

how can filipino hope that US will help them, after they attacking US Embassy