China twits US, PH over joint drills

From the Manila Standard Today (Jun 22): China twits US, PH over joint drills

The Chinese government has called on the Philippines and United States to engage in other productive activities that would promote national security and trust in the region.

On a  government official website was posted the Friday  statement of Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying who was asked to comment on the  forthcoming naval exercises between Manila and Washington in the disputed waters. “We hope relevant countries can do more things that are conducive to promoting national security and mutual trust, and safeguarding regional peace and stability,” Hua told the Chinese reporters on Friday.

The Philippines’ Defense department  spokesman on Friday  confirmed that warships of Manila and Washington would hold joint  exercises near the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) amid escalating territorial rows between Beijing and its neighbors.

The drills will be held off the west coast of the Philippines’ main island of Luzon, said military spokesman Lt. Rommel Rodriguez.

Hua also confirmed that China’s Maritime Security Administration is set to conduct another four drilling platforms operation in the disputed waters sometime next week.

She said that the drilling is just “normal activity” and that other countries must not “link” this activity to any particular matter.

“China’s Maritime Security Administration has made it clear in its announcements that the drilling platforms are operating completely within the coastal waters off China’s Guangdong Province and Hainan Province,” she said.

“So these are just normal activities. There is no need to read too much into them or make particular links,” Hua added.

The Hainan province has established last year a new city called “Sansha”.
Sansha city covers a huge part of the West Philippine Sea which affects parts of the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei.

Hua confirmed that they are going to perform drilling platforms in its puportedly territory Number 9 South China Sea, Guangdong Province (which affects Vietnam’s water territory) and Hainan Province where part of it are the Philippines’ rightfully sovereignty.

“China’s Maritime Security Administration has made public these platforms’ coordinates. You can locate these coordinates on a map. China is working in its own yard. If someone read too much into it or give wild interpretations, then they are deliberately stirring things up,” she said.

As of press time, the Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose has yet to comment on this development.

China has been claiming 90 percent ot the whole waters and features of the South China Sea where the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei has overlapping claims.

The Philippines recently filed protests following Beijing’s reclamation activities in at least five reefs in the region-- Mabini, Malvar, Calderon, Burgos and Kennan.

There is also pending case against China’s nine-dash line map claims before the Arbitral Tribunal.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/06/22/china-twits-us-ph-over-joint-drills/