US President Barack Obama’s first stop in Manila is a symbolic one. He’s touring a naval vessel that has come to represent Philippine resistance to China over the disputed South China Sea, focusing attention on territorial tensions ahead of a meeting of Asia Pacific leaders.
China, however, said it has shown “great restraint” in the South China Sea by not seizing islands occupied by other countries even though it could have.
It claims to be the real victim as it had “dozens” of its islands and reefs in the Spratlys illegally occupied by three of the claimants, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin told a news conference in Beijing.
He did not name the countries, but all claimants except Brunei have military fortifications in the Spratlys.
“The Chinese government has the right and the ability to recover the islands and reefs illegally occupied by neighboring countries,” Liu said.
“But we haven’t done this. We have maintained great restraint with the aim to preserve peace and stability in the South China Sea.”
China wants the South China Sea issue to stay off the agenda at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, a US ally that has challenged China at an international arbitration tribunal over its sea claims. But given the level of friction over the waterway, some sort of discussion at the meeting is unavoidable, US officials have said. Other claimant states including Vietnam and Malaysia are attending APEC.
Obama opened his Manila trip Tuesday with a visit to the BRP Gregorio del Pilar which is known to many Filipinos for confronting two Chinese surveillance ships in 2012 near a disputed shoal in the Spratly island chain. The vessel is also a symbol of US military support for the Philippines as it got its start in the US Coast Guard before it was decommissioned in 2011 and transferred to the Southeast Asian nation.
During the visit to BRP Gregorio del Pilar, Obama pledged to provide the Philippines two more ships that will bolster its capability to secure the country’s maritime waters and increase its presence in the West Philippine Sea.
“I can announce that we intend to transfer two additional ships to the Philippine Navy – a research vessel to help map its territorial waters” and another Coast Guard cutter to bolster the Navy’s ability to conduct long endurance patrols,” Obama said in his address to Philippine defense and White House reporters. Obama said the US has an “ironclad” commitment to security in the Philippines.
Obama may have the chance to raise the issue with President Xi Jinping, who also arrived Tuesday at APEC. “I’m confident that it will be the subject of prominent discussion among the leaders that are gathered,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said. Obama and Xi had a “candid” discussion during the Chinese president’s visit to Washington in September, Obama said.
Tensions over the South China Sea are likely to dominate the East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur later this week.
While not on the formal agenda of the APEC summit, the South China Sea is expected to be discussed on the sidelines.
Obama will attend both meetings. Chinese President Xi Jinping is in Manila for APEC while Premier Li Keqiang will represent China in Malaysia.
Liu said China did not want the South China Sea to be the focus of the East Asia Summit.
http://www.mb.com.ph/obamas-ph-warship-tour-keeps-sea-spat-in-focus-at-apec/
China, however, said it has shown “great restraint” in the South China Sea by not seizing islands occupied by other countries even though it could have.
US President Barrack Obama (top photo) makes his way to his convoy after addressing the officers and men of the BRP Gregorio del Pilar, the Philippine Navy’s flagship, at Pier 13 in Manila as he led the arrival yesterday of the heads of state who will attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders Summit
He did not name the countries, but all claimants except Brunei have military fortifications in the Spratlys.
“The Chinese government has the right and the ability to recover the islands and reefs illegally occupied by neighboring countries,” Liu said.
China wants the South China Sea issue to stay off the agenda at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, a US ally that has challenged China at an international arbitration tribunal over its sea claims. But given the level of friction over the waterway, some sort of discussion at the meeting is unavoidable, US officials have said. Other claimant states including Vietnam and Malaysia are attending APEC.
During the visit to BRP Gregorio del Pilar, Obama pledged to provide the Philippines two more ships that will bolster its capability to secure the country’s maritime waters and increase its presence in the West Philippine Sea.
Obama may have the chance to raise the issue with President Xi Jinping, who also arrived Tuesday at APEC. “I’m confident that it will be the subject of prominent discussion among the leaders that are gathered,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said. Obama and Xi had a “candid” discussion during the Chinese president’s visit to Washington in September, Obama said.
While not on the formal agenda of the APEC summit, the South China Sea is expected to be discussed on the sidelines.
Liu said China did not want the South China Sea to be the focus of the East Asia Summit.
http://www.mb.com.ph/obamas-ph-warship-tour-keeps-sea-spat-in-focus-at-apec/
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.