The Philippines has called on China anew to desist from its reclamation work in contested areas in the South China Sea, saying its expansion activities are raising tensions in the region.
Beijing is currently undertaking land reclamation on seven disputed features in the South China Sea, including in areas that Philippine officials say are within Manila's territory.
A latest surveillance photo of Burgos Reef (Gaven Reef), according to Philippine defense officials, showed that China has constructed a building as large as the Mall of Asia in Pasay City – Manila’s biggest shopping mall.
“We are strongly opposed to the reclamation for several reasons because very clearly it is intended to change the status quo, the character and feature, including maritime entitlements, of features in the South China Sea,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose told reporters on Thursday.
China insists its activities are within the scope of its sovereign jurisdiction, saying it its claim over nearly the entire resource-rich waters are “indisputable.”
Alarmed with what it calls China’s expansionist moves in the South China Sea, Manila sued Beijing before a Netherlands-based tribunal operating under a United Nations convention, to try to declare as illegal its enormous claim. China rejected Manila’s case.
“Another reason why we are opposed to their reclamation is that they are raising tensions and it undermines peace and stability in the region,” Jose said.
Further, Jose warned that the massive reclamation is causing “widespread destruction of the region’s marine biodiversity” and could “irreparably damage the entire ecological balance in the South China Sea.”
China, Jose said, must “exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities” pursuant to a 2002 non-aggression pact it signed with Southeast Asian nations on the South China Sea disputes.
The accord calls on all claimants to stop new occupation of territories in the South China Sea. However, the document lacks the power to sanction states that will violate its provisions.
“We call on China to stop the reclamation work and to adhere to international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,” he said, referring to a maritime treaty signed by the Philippines, China and 162 other governments.
Jose said the Philippine government is not inclined to lodge a new diplomatic protest against China.
“It’s a continuation of the reclamation work that they already started and which we already protested against,” he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.