Int'l pressure played a role in Chinese reclamation halt

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 6): Int'l pressure played a role in Chinese reclamation halt

Mounting pressure from the international community played a major role in China's decision to halt reclamation works at disputed portions of the South China Sea.

This was stressed by Department of National Defense (DND) spokesperson Dr. Peter Paul Galvez Thursday.

"Yes, it played a very significant role," he said in reply to questions on whether growing clamor on the international community forced China to stop its reclamation works.

Countries who expressed their concern over Chinese reclamation activities in the South China Sea include the US and Japan.

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi made this statement in the sideline of the ongoing ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

And while to verify the Chinese statement, the DND spokesperson said a stop in the reclamation doesn't change the fact that China violated the agreement among states, and disrespected other nations in the area.

Galvez was referring to the 2002 Declaration of the Code of Conduct signed by China and ASEAN members, an agreement those violation China must be made accountable.

Aside from this, China also violated Philippine maritime rights and placed the region in crisis, he added. "Furthermore, the region would be glad to see a genuine proof of sincerity. The best proof would be the pull out of all equipment as a clear and unequivocal manifestation of that announcement," the DND spokesperson said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=790492