China fueling tension — Philippines

Manila Standard Today (Jan 10): China fueling tension — Philippines

Foreign Affairs secretary Albert del Rosario said China should explain its deployment of a patrol ship in the potentially oil-rich portions of the West Philippine Sea, saying the move only heightened tensions in the disputed waters. “Yes, we think this is a bothersome. We are asking for clarification, on what it is exactly they are trying to do there,” he told reporters at Wednesday’s luncheon meeting. According to Del Rosario, Chinese diplomats have said Beijing will only assert its claims, including intercepting foreign ships, in the southernmost province of Hainan.

Meanwhile, territorial rifts would be discussed with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida in their meeting today along with Japan’s planned donation of 10 patrol boats for coastal operations. “Japan is an important strategic partner,” he said. Last year, chancery head Minister Shinsuke Shimizu announced the donation of vessels to the Coast Guard by 2014.

Defense Undersecretary Fernando Manalo said the Philippine Navy was studying plans to arm with missiles and other weapons two refurbished Hamilton-class cutters acquired from the United States. He said Secretary Voltaire Gazmin took up with President Benigno Aquino III ways to maximize the use of the vessels. “I was there (in the meeting). We discussed the present capability of BRP Gregorio del Pila) and BRP Ramon Alcaraz (on) what we’re going to do to increase its capability,” he said.
“We will use our cutters to secure our Malampaya (gas project off Palawan) and other service contract areas of the Department of Energy.”

Aside from the three Chinese vessels anchored around the Scarborough Shoal, China has established the Sansha City to administer the Spratlys, Paracel, and Macclesfield islands of the sea, with overlapping claims also by Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

In reference to Sansha City, Del Rosario said that no country can establish “an administrative over something [that is] not recognized by international law” or an agreement. “Of course we have protested that because we believe, that is creating tension,” he said. Five months after the establishment, Hainan province with jurisdiction over Sansha, a local law, effective last Jan. 1, was enforced to allow Chinese police. “We are trying to see the necessary clarification here,” Del Rosario said.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/01/10/china-fueling-tension-philippines/