China to launch surveys on disputed islands; Japan backs PH in sea row

From InterAksyon: China to launch surveys on disputed islands; Japan backs PH in sea row

As the Philippines on Thursday got Japan's backing in peacefully addressing territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea, China on the same day announced that it would launch this year a national survey on its territorial islands that include areas being claimed by the Philippines. According to Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Albert del Rosario, Japan, which also has a dispute with China over Senkakus Islands, was "aware of the magnitude of the challenge" of resolving the conflict. He said that both the Philippines and Japan "understand that the assertions being made by China in terms of their nine-dash line claim... do pose threats to the stability of the region." Del Rosario made the statement during a news briefing in Malacanang on Thursday after the courtesy call of visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida on President Benigno Aquino III.

Japan has committed to empower the Philippine Maritime Security in terms of its multi-role response vessels, which will be funded by the Japanese government, according to Del Rosario. "We also discussed this communication system for maritime safety which also would be for the benefit of the (Philippine) Coast Guard," he said. Del Rosario also said that both countries had agreed on the need to ensure the "freedom of navigation" in the region.

According to the DFA chief, this freedom is being threatened by China's claim to practically all territories in the West Philippine Sea. "If you look at the posture of China in the South China Sea, their fixed posture is the foundation of their policy in those sea -- that they have indisputable sovereignty over nearly all of the South China Sea. Now, this of course is an excessive claim. It’s in violation of international law," Del Rosario said. A report by Xinhua said China's national survey on the resources of its territorial islands would start on the first half of the year and would be completed by 2016.

Quoting a circular from China's national conference on maritime affairs, Xinhua said the survey would determine unspecified base points and baselines of the country's territorial waters around the islands. China will also monitor the geological features of its important islands, including the Xisha (Paracel), Zhongsha, and Nansha islands in the South China Sea, according to the circular.

The distribution, quantity and quality of the islands' resources and the development potentials of such resources, as well as the islands' major environmental and ecological conditions will also be investigated in the survey, the document said. China considers Scarborough or Panatag Shoal (Huangyan Island) as part of Zhongsha Islands. The shoal, located between the Macclesfield Bank and Luzon Island, is being claimed by the Philippines. Also, the Philippines claims portions of Nansha Islands or the Spratly Islands. China has recently called for a reestablishment of an administrative unit to oversee the entire area, which they consider as the nine-dash. Del Rosario said this is another violation of international laws.

"When you talk about that administrative unit, you’re talking about the Sansha City being in the Paracels and the administrative unit encompasses the Spratlys as well as the (Macclesfield) Bank which also includes Bajo de Masinloc," he explained. "First, they (China) have an excessive claim; then they’re creating an administrative unit over those areas; and then they come up with this new law which provides for enforcement in terms of interdiction of ships in those areas," he noted.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/52424/china-to-launch-surveys-on-disputed-islands-japan-backs-ph-in-sea-row