South China Sea Forum

[Malaya]

Spain to turn over some 70 historical maps to strengthen PH claim over disputed territories

InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5

MANILA, Philippines - Two days before China comes out with its official maps that highlight territories in South China Sea, which are also being claimed by the Philippines, Spanish Ambassador to Manila Jorge Domecq said his country is willing to turn over to the Philippines some 70 of the latter's historical maps.

Domecq made the announcement on Tuesday at the sidelines of the sixth Tribuna España-Filipinas, a high-dialogue between the two countries held at the AIM Conference Center in Makati City.

During the event, Domecq was asked what could Spain contribute to further strengthen the Philippines' claim over the disputed territories in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) given that Madrid and Manila shared hundreds of years of historical heritage.

"I think that is something that you probably have to dig into the archives (for)… I can send it to you, where you have around 70 maps, which are a private collection, and then you can draw your conclusion," Domecq replied.

Sen. Edgardo Angara also owns a vast collection of Philippine maps dating back to Spanish colonial times, which include an old map showing that Scarborough (Panatag or Bajo de Masinloc) Shoal belongs to the Philippines. China refers to the rock fomation as Huangyan Island.

According to Angara, it is clear that the shoal was part of the Philippines' cartography during the Spanish colonial area. The senator said there is map made in 1734 that shows that Panatag was already part of the Phillippine Islands, which was then under Spanish colonial rule.

China has been firm on its stand that it owns the entire South China Sea, citing its historical inheritance and the nine-dash-line on its ancient map.

But a senior official from the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), who requested anonimity for lack of authority to speak on the matter, said that with or without the old maps from Spain, the Philippines would win its case against China.

Earlier this month, the Philippines filed a case against China over its excessive territorial claims before the Arbitral Tribunal of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos).

"China’s claim is not based on the Unclos, it is based allegedly on some other laws. Ours is an entitlement, therefore legally, we have territorial sovereignty [over the West Philippine Sea]. So between the two of us, I don't have the burden of truth, you [China] have the burden of truth,” the senior DFA official told InterAksyon.com in an interview on Tuesday.

According to the DFA official, the Philippines is entitled to the 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone provided by the Unclos.

“We are the one who has entitlement, theirs are [just] claims. We don't have to prove ourselves...the law already proved it. They are the ones with a claim that's not based on a written law, but on their own concept of laws, so why put a burden on me [Philippines]?,” the official said.

China is set to come out with its new official maps showing the 130 islands and islets of the South China Sea or the nine-dash-line claims, including the islands and waters that the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia also claim.

The new maps, which for the first time put the disputed islands in South China Sea in equal scale to that of the Chinese mainland, are published by China's national map publisher SinoMaps Press and will be available to the public by end of January this year. The maps also feature islands in East China Sea being claimed by Japan.

DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez on Tuesday said the department was still waiting for the Philippine Embassy in Beijing to verify the existence of the new map highlighting the disputed territories.

“As we have said, we are still asking our embassy in Beijing for verification regarding the map and the extent of the coverage of the map,” Hernandez told reporters.

He said the DFA would "act accordingly" as soon as it sees the new China maps and the extent of their coverage.

If the maps cover parts of the Philippine territory the DFA will again "file a protest" against China’s action, according to Hernandez.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/...strengthen-ph-claim-over-disputed-territories

 

[Malaya]

US lawmakers back PHL decision to take China disputes to UN arbitration

A visiting US congressional delegation expressed support on Tuesday to the Philippine government’s decision to take long standing territorial disputes with China before a United Nations arbitration body.

Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Carlos Sorreta said the five-man US delegation led by Congressman Edward Royce (Republican, California), chairman of the House committee on Foreign Affairs, “expressed their full support” to Manila’s efforts “to resolve the situation in a peaceful manner and in accordance to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.”

“There were some discussion on the details of our actions and they were very interested in the merits of our arguments. They’re very supportive of it,” Sorreta told reporters after the group met Philippine officials led by Secretary Albert del Rosario at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The US lawmakers’ backing is among the first foreign expression of support to the Philippine government’s filing last week of an arbitration case before the UN to try to declare China’s expansive claim to the South China Sea, part of which is known as West Philippine Sea.

China has yet to officially declare if it would get involved in the landmark case, Sorreta said.

From Manila, the US delegation will proceed to Beijing and would likely discuss the territorial disputes with Chinese officials, Sorreta said.

Other members of the US delegation are Representatives Tom Marino (Republican, Pennsylvania), Eliot Engel (Democratic, New York), Vern Buchanan (Republican, Florida), and Matt Salmon (Republican, Arizona).

“They are very, very interested in the issue. They asked us, they asked the Secretary for details and the Secretary briefed them. They are very interested in the peaceful resolution of this issue,” Sorreta said.

Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Cuisia, who was present at the meeting, said Del Rosario explained to the US lawmakers that Manila needed to go on a legal track because the country’s efforts at diplomacy and moves to settle it through the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), “have not yielded any results.”

Manila has maintained that a rules-based approach is the only legitimate way in addressing disputes through a legal framework such as the UNCLOS.

UNCLOS is a 1982 accord by 163 countries that aims to govern the use of offshore areas and sets territorial limits of coastal states. The Philippines and China are both signatories to the treaty.

Alarmed by China’s expansionist moves, which the Philippines called “unlawful” and “invalid,” the government of President Benigno S. Aquino III took a bold step last week when it elevated its long-standing maritime rift with Beijing before the UN.

China is citing historical entitlements as basis for its huge claims over the South China Sea.

The South China Sea is dotted with islands, shoals, cays, reefs and rock formations and is believed to be rich in oil and natural gas. It is claimed in part or in whole by China, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

The resource-rich waters is an international waterway where more than 50 percent of the world's merchant fleet tonnage pass each year.

Many have feared the conflicts could be Asia's next flashpoint. —KG, GMA News

US lawmakers back PHL decision to take China disputes to UN arbitration | News | GMA News Online | The Go-To Site for Filipinos Everywhere

 

[Kiss_of_the_Dragon]

^^^ sound like we care

 

[Viet]

^^^ sound like we care

Regardless of you like ot not, the Philippines´s decision to take the dispute to international court is a serious attack on China´s claims in the SCS.

 

[hurt]

Regardless of you like ot not, the Philippines´s decision to take the dispute to international court is a serious attack on China´s claims in the SCS.

it's useless struggle

 

[Viet]

it's useless struggle

You fool. We know of your arrogance, hence we are stepping up our monitoring in the South China Sea. Every single ship in the region is tracked.

A radar operator of the Vietnamese army is on duty on Song Tu Tay island of the Truong Sa archipelago -Photo: Tuoi Tre

 

[hurt]

You fool. We know of your arrogance, hence we are stepping up our monitoring in the South China Sea. Every single ship in the region is tracked.

A radar operator of the Vietnamese army is on duty on Song Tu Tay island of the Truong Sa archipelago -Photo: Tuoi Tre

Then？What you do with those ships

 

[Viet]

Then？What you do with those ships

You are so funny. Why do we monitor all naval activities in the region? Use your brain!

 

[Soryu]

You are so funny. Why do we monitor all naval activities in the region? Use your brain!

Are you forgot, Viet!? Their brains just full with mess of arrogant in here!

 

[Soryu]

Vietnam's Naval infantry
I Think this pic was take at Sparty Islands or Cam Ranh naval base because we see sea at background.

 

[hurt]

You are so funny. Why do we monitor all naval activities in the region? Use your brain!

Plz keep detailed records ,chinese thank you

Vietnam's Naval infantry
I Think this pic was take at Sparty Islands or Cam Ranh naval base because we see sea at background.

Wheel armored vehicle and Infantry VS warship!
Nice game!

 

[Zero_wing]

it's useless struggle

What it hasn't even started yet? what's wrong have hard time thinking? No one left to screw ideas from cheap copy cats?

Anyway the Philippines is on the right here we have the documents and a lot countries are helping us so again chinese warmongers imperialist what are you talking about useless struggle maybe you people should just accept the true that illogical claims are nothing but a child's tantrum being done by 5,000 year old bonjing (Man who acts like a baby) who needs to accepts facts and should act like a civilized member of the International Community well its up to you folks if you like to continue on this but we do what we can ang tama ay tama ng mali ay mali yun ang totoo (what is right is right what is wrong is wrong that's the truth)

 

[hurt]

What it hasn't even started yet? what's wrong have hard time thinking? No one left to screw ideas from cheap copy cats?

Anyway the Philippines is on the right here we have the documents and a lot countries are helping us so again chinese warmongers imperialist what are you talking about useless struggle maybe you people should just accept the true that illogical claims are nothing but a child's tantrum being done by 5,000 year old bonjing (Man who acts like a baby) who needs to accepts facts and should act like a civilized member of the International Community well its up to you folks if you like to continue on this but we do what we can ang tama ay tama ng mali ay mali yun ang totoo (what is right is right what is wrong is wrong that's the truth)

You have no right in SCS.
Don't Rely On Your Wishful Thinking.

 

[Zero_wing]

You have no right in SCS.
Don't Rely On Your Wishful Thinking.

Oh please were not even taking the whole West Philippine Sea only part of it which granted to countries like us by International law and our own constitution and please don't use words you don't understand. One china is land mass while the Philippines is an archipelago country meaning a nation of Islands under archipelagic doctrine of International law archipelago which again a country made out of islands have continuous line of territory between islands meaning in between islands its one straight line its Philippine territory otherwise the economic and national security of island countries would be endanger because foreign ships can just go in between them without reservation and they can take the area resource even if its close to the nation in question plus we are only claiming an area which rightfully ours to being with unlike your Imperialist Government who claims over all of the West Philippines Sea we are only claiming the kalayaan Isalands near to Palawan and our 200 EZZ and Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal) and all of the resources of the area which is accordingly by our constitutions up to present (the constitution of 1989) and doctrines under international law and treaties and we have control over the Area since pre espanic times china has not conquered us even though you tried countless times (Chinese Pirate attacks as early as 16th century) plus we are protecting the endemic species that you are kill through extinction because of your Imperialism and your greedy and some old traditional meals which has no relevance in modern medicine so if you have no evidence to rip off our to make up just give it up your insults are nothing your just angry you have no more avenue to run your stupid claims again you people are like children trying to reason your way out of trouble yourselves cause. You people love economic pressuring and threatening countries with military force (your so called bilateral solution) Is and insult to civilized law general.

 

[hurt]

Oh please were not even taking the whole West Philippine Sea only part of it which granted to countries like us by International law and our own constitution and please don't use words you don't understand. One china is land mass while the Philippines is an archipelago country meaning a nation of Islands under archipelagic doctrine of International law archipelago which again a country made out of islands have continuous line of territory between islands meaning in between islands its one straight line its Philippine territory otherwise the economic and national security of island countries would be endanger because foreign ships can just go in between them without reservation and they can take the area resource even if its close to the nation in question plus we are only claiming an area which rightfully ours to being with unlike your Imperialist Government who claims over all of the West Philippines Sea we are only claiming the kalayaan Isalands near to Palawan and our 200 EZZ and Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal) and all of the resources of the area which is accordingly by our constitutions up to present (the constitution of 1989) and doctrines under international law and treaties and we have control over the Area since pre espanic times china has not conquered us even though you tried countless times (Chinese Pirate attacks as early as 16th century) plus we are protecting the endemic species that you are kill through extinction because of your Imperialism and your greedy and some old traditional meals which has no relevance in modern medicine so if you have no evidence to rip off our to make up just give it up your insults are nothing your just angry you have no more avenue to run your stupid claims again you people are like children trying to reason your way out of trouble yourselves cause. You people love economic pressuring and threatening countries with military force (your so called bilateral solution) Is and insult to civilized law general.

Everything is nonsense.
The only determining factor is National Strength.