PH occupies nine islands in West Philippine Sea — DND

From the Manila Bulletin (Jul 23): PH occupies nine islands in West Philippine Sea — DND

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana Monday stressed that the country is still in control and in occupation of its nine islands in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) contrary to speculation that China took some of it.



Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (AFP PHOTO / NOEL CELIS / MANILA BULLETIN)

Lorenzana made the remark following a Social Weather Stations (SWS) Survey that showed 87 percent, or about nine of 10 adult Filipinos, believe it was important to regain control of the Chinese-held islands in the West Philippine Sea.

However, Lorenzana pointed out that what China reclaimed was several underwater reefs that are now islands.

“No, we are still in control and in occupation. China reclaimed several underwater reefs that are now islands. Scarborough or Panatag shoal was lost to the Chinese in 2012. No island belonging to us were ever lost during the time of President (Rodrigo) Duterte,” Lorenzana said.

“While Panatag is under the effective control of the Chinese, our fishermen could fish in the area,” he added.

Lorenzana reiterated that there is nothing to retake as the country did not lose any islands in the West Philippine Sea.

“Retake what? Did we lose any Islands? The Chinese never took any of our occupied Islands. They took over unoccupied reefs and turned them into Islands. Had we been wiser we could have occupied those reefs as well when we occupied the nine Islands in the 70s,” Lorenzana said.

“I will throw the question back. How do you resolve the issue with a regional power that is ready to defend its “interest” militarily? Madaling magsabi ng (It’s easy to say) “let us assert our rights and sovereignty”. Question is How?”

“But first was there sovereignty violated? We have the sovereign right to exploit the resources but the WPS is not our sovereign territory. Panatag Shoal (thanks to the arbitral ruling) is now the fishing ground not exclusively of the Filipinos but of Chinese, Vietnamese and Taiwanese as well,” he added.

Lorenzana said one cannot accuse the Chief Executive of inaction because, after his bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Filipino fishermen returned to Panatag to fish.

“We can resupply our troops on our islands without interference. An agreement was made that both parties cannot occupy new features and none has done so far in compliance with this. And there is the talk of joint development of gas and oil resources in the area. Tourism and trade have flourished especially export of agricultural products,” Lorenzana said.

Lorenzana said compare these positive developments from that of the past administration with their action going to the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), an international arbitral court, a body not under the United Nations and doesn’t have an enforcement mechanism.

“China did not participate. We won but it is an empty victory: The Chinese won’t leave our EEZ and instead it continues to assert its historical rights over the areas within the nine-dash line.,” Lorenzana said.

“Additionally, it stopped buying our bananas and pineapples, Chinese tourists dwindled to near zero, and our fishermen were barred from going to Panatag to fish,” he added.

Lorenzana said it will take time before the conflict is resolved and maybe not in our lifetime.

“(Even) the Chinese said that maybe we may not be able to resolve this in our lifetime. Maybe our descendants will be wiser. Meantime, let us leverage whatever advantage we have to improve our economy and the capabilities of our AFP and help in maintaining Regional peace and stability,” he said.

Going back to the survey, Duterte said there must be something wrong with the way the survey questions were crafted considering only 9 out of 10 Filipinos agreed that
it was important to regain control of the Chinese-held islands in the West Philippine Sea.

“It should be unanimous that we all want the control and exploitation of our EEZ,” Lorenzana said.

“So there are 10 percent who disapproves of the idea that we get back control? Who are these people? Bakit ayaw nila an mabalik sa complete control natin ang WPS? If I were to make a survey I would separate the two: whether I want control of the WPS and do you approved of the government’s action. Here I would explain what the Duterte administration found when it assumes office and what is obtaining now in the WPS,” he said.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/07/23/ph-occupies-nine-islands-in-west-philippine-sea-dnd/