China's building frenzy in Panatag Shoal now an NSC concern

From InterAksyon (Sep 10): China's building frenzy in Panatag Shoal now an NSC concern

After officials repeatedly denied reports that China was preparing to build more structures off Panatag (Scarborough Shoal), the government now seems sufficiently alarmed as to elevate it to the level of the National Security Council (NSC), which met recently to discuss the situation off Masinloc, Zambales.

“I think the situation is still being monitored as to developments there. But this is....now [at] the National Security Council [level] that is looking into it and [determining] what are the things that [must be done],” Flag-Officer-in-Command Vice Admiral Jose Luis Alano said.

A reliable source said at least three China Maritime Surveillance (CMS) ships and a Chinese Coast Guard vessel are currently in the vicinity of the shoal, where China and the Philippines had a stand-off in April 2012 after a Chinese CMS stopped Philippine authorities from boarding the ships of poachers.

After intense negotiations, both countries agreed to pull out their ships, but only the Philippine side did so, and since then, Beijing has been considered to have de facto occupation of a significant part of the area. Filipino fishermen who have been there for decades reported being shooed away by Chinese boats.

A source said, “It looks like they’re already putting together those cement blocks they dropped inside the lagoon.”

Lt. Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang, commander of the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) that has operational jursidction over the disputed maritime area, confirmed the presence of the vessels but said only two to three were cited in the last report.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin told lawmakers at last week's budget hearing that at least 67 cement blocks were spotted in the northern portion of the lagoon, and called this a “prelude to construction.”

In early June, reports came out about such building frenzy, but both the defense department and the Armed Forces quickly denied it. Reliable sources then said that defense and military top brass already had “satellite photos” showing Chinese vessels “bringing in” construction materials into the shoal.

Alano acknowledged as much this week. “Actually, these reported blocks have been reported in the past,” he said, but he maintains “there have been no significant change” since last week’s report on the 75 cement blocks.

Asked if the government intends to remove the cement blocks from the shoal, he said: “These are thing that are now being discussed…I don’t like to preempt the discussions.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs had said last week it will file another diplomatic protest against Beijing in connection with the building blocks found on the shoal.

This will be also included as an official document for Manila’s case against China, which it accused of violating the Code of Conduct on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Manila has gone up to the UN arbitral court over the objections of China, which has carried out even more intrusions into Philippine territories like the Ayungin Reef, part of the Kalayaan Island Group KIG), a town in Palawan.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/70428/chinas-building-frenzy-in-panatag-shoal-now-an-nsc-concern