04/04/2019
- Philippines’ foreign ministry weighs in on controversy over presence of Chinese fleet near contested Thitu Island
- Manila has ‘consistently manifested its … objections or concerns over illegal, tension-raising or coercive activities’, statement says
The Philippines is angry about the presence of a Chinese fleet close to Thitu Island in the South China Sea. Photo: AMTI
The Philippines’ foreign ministry on Thursday accused Beijing of violating its sovereignty and jurisdiction by allowing hundreds of vessels to sail close to an island claimed by Manila in the South China Sea.
described China’s growing presence in the disputed waters as “very concerning”, saying on a trip to Washington that it was encroaching on the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
The conflict relates to the presence of up to
, which Manila calls Pag-asa, in the disputed Spratly Islands.
The Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila said the Philippines “has consistently manifested its position on Pag-asa … and its objections or concerns over illegal, tension-raising or coercive activities, through diplomatic actions … and in meetings with the Chinese side”.
The statement said Thitu is part of the Kalayaan island group – the local name for the Spratlys – and an integral part of the Philippines, over which it has sovereignty and jurisdiction.
“The presence of Chinese vessels near and around Pag-asa and other maritime features in the KIG is illegal,” it said.
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“Such actions when not repudiated by the Chinese government are deemed to have been adopted by it,” it said. “The presence of Chinese vessels within the KIG, whether military, fishing or other such will thus continue to be the subject of appropriate action by the Philippines”.
The foreign ministry said earlier it had filed a diplomatic protest about the presence of more than 200 Chinese vessels near Thitu between January and March.
Satellite images captured in February by the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative under the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies show almost 100 Chinese ships apparently hampering Philippine construction work on Thitu.
The fleet, dispatched from the nearby Subi Reef, includes naval and coastguard vessels, as well as dozens of fishing boats.
Manila was planning to upgrade its military facilities on Thitu, including the construction of an airstrip, but the project was suspended because of the Chinese interference.
The defence chiefs of the US and the Philippines reaffirmed their security alliance on Monday in Washington. As well as agreeing to boost cooperation, the US promised to increase its support for Manila’s military modernisation – a move seen as a response to Beijing’s increasingly assertive posturing in the South China Sea.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte says he will not confront China over the South China Sea dispute as doing so would end in war. Photo: AP
Despite the statements from his ministries,
said on Wednesday that Beijing wanted to be friends with Manila and that he would not confront China over their competing claims in the South China Sea because it would end in war.
The foreign affairs department in Manila also sought to sound a positive note in its statement, saying the maritime dispute was not the “sum total” of Philippines-China relations, and should not exclude mutually beneficial cooperation in other fields.
US more likely than Philippines to end up in ‘shooting war’
A day after the two nations wrapped up their latest meeting on the South China Sea, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Thursday the two sides had reaffirmed their differences but would continue to seek a resolution.
“China looks forward to working with the Philippines to make active efforts to safeguard the overall interests of China-Philippines cooperation and peace and stability in the South China Sea,” he said.
Hong Kong-based military expert Song Zhongping said the presence of the Chinese vessels near Thitu was a clear statement of Beijing’s intent.
“Beijing believes Thitu Island is Chinese territory, so any work there should be done by China, not the Philippines,” he said.
It also wanted to stop Manila “opening the door to dangerous people” he said, referring to the Southeast Asian nation’s announcement about allowing the US access to five more of its military bases.
Source: SCMP
Posted in accuses, Beijing, China alert, maritime disputes, Philippines, South China Sea, sovereignty, Uncategorized, violating |
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09/03/2019
HANOI (Reuters) – Vietnam is seeking clarification of how a fishing boat came to sink this week in the contested South China Sea, the Foreign Ministry said on Saturday, days after a local rescue agency said it was rammed by a Chinese vessel.
Vietnam and China have long been embroiled in maritime disputes in the potentially energy-rich stretch of water, called East Sea by Vietnam.
The boat sank on Wednesday near Da Loi island in the Paracel Archipelago, the ministry said in an emailed statement. It said all five fishermen on board were rescued by another Vietnamese fishing boat.
“Vietnamese authorities are continuing to clarify the cause of the incident,” the ministry said, without elaborating.
Source: Reuters
Posted in boat's sinking, China alert, Chinese vessel, contested waters, Da Loi island, East Sea, energy-rich, fishermen, Foreign Ministry, investigating, maritime disputes, Paracel Archipelago, rammed, rescue agency, South China Sea, Uncategorized, Vietnam, Vietnamese authorities |
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