No new Sino vessels seen on disputed islands — AFP

From the Daily Tribune (Jan 4): No new Sino vessels seen on disputed islands — AFP

The military’s Western Command (Wescom) yesterday welcomed China’s clarification of its new policy in the disputed West Philippine Sea or South China Sea stating its interdiction powers only covers 12 nautical miles from Hainan’s coastal zones. In a chance interview by Camp Aguinaldo reporters, Wescom chief Lt. Gen. Juancho Sabban said that based on latest reconnaissance patrol conducted by Wescom on Thursday, no new Chinese vessels have been monitored in the disputed territory.

Sabban also noted China “retracted” its previous statement to board and search all vessels passing through the West Philippine Sea. “I think this is a good development since their area of concern conforms with international law which is only 12 miles from their coastline,” he said. In a recent statement, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said the new rules implemented by Hainan province on Tuesday would be limited to waters extending only 12 nautical miles from its coast.

Asked how he was taking China’s “retraction,” Sabban replied “well, we have answered that before, we should stick to international law and China should respect our territory and sovereignty.” “As per informationfrom my commanders, we conducted aerial recon (Thursday), we didn’t see any of the new vessels that China said they will deploy to West Philippine Sea,” Sabban said. According to him, there has been no significant development on all islands or reefs being claimed by various countries.

The Wescom, however, called for the improvement of the country’s present facilities on Pagasa Island, one of the islands in the Kalayaan Islands Group (KIGs) occupied by the Philippines, if only to spur economic development in the area. Sabban noted that other countries have started developing their occupied areas into tourist destinations.

He said he does not see any issue if the Philippines will do some repair work on the airstrip on Pagasa Island which has been there for 40 years. “The airstrip is operational, we can land our own planes there, but it needs repairs due to erosion in some portions,” Sabban revealed. “This will spur economic development for inhabitants of those islands, this will create livelihood. This will also attract tourists in that area. While other countries are promoting their own islands to become tourist destinations then we should, we might as well compete with their reefs and shoals which will definitely put us in an advantage because ours are much better than theirs,” he said.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/nation/item/8752-no-new-sino-vessels-seen-on-disputed-islands-—-afp