DFA denies reports Chinese ships left Panatag Shoal

From GMA News (Jul 4): DFA denies reports Chinese ships left Panatag Shoal

The Department of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday belied reports that Chinese warships have left Panatag Shoal.

 

"They come back and forth. The intrusion into our national territory continue," Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said in a text message to GMA News Online.

 

Citing a senior security official, who refused to be named, PhilStar.com reported Thursday that "maritime and aerial monitoring showed no sign of any Chinese ship within the immediate vicinity of Panatag nor within its 75-nautical-mile radius."

 

For his part, in a separate phone interview Thursday morning, Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Armand Balilio said he has no information on the matter.

 

Disputed territory
  

Last June 27, the Philippines and United States started war games off the west coast of Luzon, near the disputed Panatag Shoal. 

 

On the same day, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned countries with territorial claims in the South China Sea looking for help from third parties that they will find their efforts "futile" and that confrontation over the area is "doomed."
But the Philippine Navy has insisted the war games were not meant to provoke China.

 

Panatag Shoal had been at the center of a territorial dispute between the Philippines and China, with the Philippines bringing the dispute to an international court for arbitration.

'Five-point approach'

 

Meanwhile, the Akbayan party-list on Thursday proposed a "five-point approach" for the government in "handling the current territorial dispute with China and the increasing involvement of the United States in the conflict."

 

Akbayan Representative Walden Bello said "while the government’s strong and diplomatic response to the threat of Chinese aggression is commendable, a comprehensive policy framework is needed especially as the conflict increasingly draws in the dynamics of superpowers."

 

Bello suggested that the government should craft a policy process over free access.

 

"It is to our grave disadvantage that we allow foreign powers ease of access to our ports and natural resources without even laying down a decent foreign policy that secures our national interests," he said.

 

"While it is true that we will need all the help we can get from our friends and allies, we should first assess what kind of help we need and ensure that their role in this conflict will not undermine our national interests," he added.

 

He said this includes a "comprehensive review" of all agreements and treaties the government entered with other countries. He added that this includes the Visiting Forces Agreement and the Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and US.

 

Bello also said another approach is for the government to "learn" from the Vietnamese government.

 

"The Vietnamese government successfully leveraged its relations with certain countries to ensure its tactical posturing in the conflict by upgrading naval defenses with strategic naval vessels and equipment," he said.

 

He noted that Vietnam was able to strengthen its own military and defense capabilities through new alliances "without sacrificing any of its national interests."

 

Promote patriotism and peace

 

Bello said another approach is to support "anti-China people power rallies" in the country.

 

"Even the symbolism of the militant but nonviolent action on the international stage will be to the nation's advantage," he said.

 

"The ingenuity of transborder citizen diplomacy that counters state-driven trends towards conflict utilizes what James Scott calls the 'weapons of the weak,' a method we must increasingly explore and maximize," he added.

 

Bello said the fourth approach is to "stand up and group together" to "confront a bully."

 

"Instead of letting superpower dynamics dictate the character of the regional conflict, the more prudent approach is to shore up our foreign policy by fostering stronger ties with our regional neighbors, especially those who have similar grievances against China's aggression," he said.

 

He also said the government "must push states to resort to diplomatic solutions and multilateral fora to solve territorial disputes"

 

Bello lauded the Philippine government's move to bring its dispute with China to the United Nations’ International Tribunal on the Law of the Seas for abjudication.

 

"The Aquino government must also pursue a demilitarized West Philippine Sea to prevent future conflicts and safeguard the area’s marine biodiversity," he added. 

 

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/315922/news/nation/dfa-denies-reports-chinese-ships-left-panatag-shoal