Aquino fears China oil rig in Philippine waters – report

From Rappler (Sep 24): Aquino fears China oil rig in Philippine waters – report

President Benigno Aquino III tells the Associated Press that the Philippines 'will stick up for its territorial rights' in the disputed South China Sea

FACING CHINA. Philippine President Benigno Aquino III says he is concerned about China's moves in the disputed South China Sea. In this photo, he speaks at Harvard University's John F Kennedy School of Government in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA on September 22, 2014. Photo by CJ Gunther/EPA

 

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III fears China might dispatch an oil rig to the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) as the Asian giant did in waters claimed by Vietnam, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

Aquino also said the Philippines “will stick up for its territorial rights” in the disputed West Philippine Sea after China sent two hydrographic ships there, according to the AP report Wednesday, September 24.

“He said the Philippines was uncertain of their purpose, but wondered if China was planning to dispatch an oil rig that was sent earlier this year to waters claimed by Vietnam, causing a spike in tensions. He said perhaps China was just mapping terrain for its submarines,” the AP said.

Aquino told the news agency, “What is clear is that there were two ships which were performing certain measurements in this feature which is part of the Philippines EEZ.”

The EEZ, or exclusive economic zone, is an area 200 nautical miles from a coastal state's baselines or edges, within which it has the exclusive rights to explore and exploit marine resources.

China's 'sovereignty patrols'

Aquino first revealed in an interview aired August 17 that the Armed Forces of the Philippines saw two Chinese hydrographic ships in the potentially oil-rich Recto (Reed) Bank in the West Philippine Sea.

The Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) condemned China's moves, and described the ships as part of China's sovereignty patrols – vessels with the sole purpose of staking Beijing's claim in the disputed waters.

DFA spokesman Charles Jose said: “We are protesting the conduct of sovereignty patrols by Chinese vessels on Recto Bank. The frequent passage of Chinese vessels in Recto Bank is not an innocent exercise of freedom of navigation, but is actually done as part of the pattern of illegitimate sovereignty patrols in the Philippine EEZ, pursuant to China's unilateral effort to change the status quo in the South China Sea.”

The sighting of the Chinese hydrographic ships came after the oil rig controversy between Vietnam and China in May. Vietnam claimed China attacked Vietnamese ships near a Chinese oil rig in the South China Sea, parts of which Vietnam claims as the East Sea. China struck back by accusing Vietnam of ramming Chinese ships at least 1,400 times.

In an interview with Rappler in June, Vietnamese Ambassador to the Philippines Truong Trieu Duong said China's moves also threaten the Philippines. (READ: Q and A: 'Brave, patriotic' Vietnam challenges China)

http://www.rappler.com/nation/69996-aquino-china-oil-rig-south-china-sea