MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Navy removed foreign markers installed on three reefs and banks in the West Philippine Sea.
The markers were on Reed Bank, Boxall Reef in the Spratly Islands, and in the nearby Amy Douglas Bank.
The removal of the markers, actually wooden posts, took place in May or just before the government formally protested the alleged incursions by the Chinese navy in Philippine territorial waters.
“They were foreign markers because they were not installed by our military or our government. So we dismantled them because they are part of Philippine territory,” Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Omar Tonsay said.
The Philippines recently accused China of putting posts and a buoy in Filipino-claimed waters, but Tonsay said the Navy had not been able to determine who placed the wooden posts that it removed in May.
“They did not have a ‘Made in China’ label or anything,” Tonsay said, adding the posts had only numbers on them.
Aside from the Philippines and China, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam have overlapping territorial claims to strategically vital and reputedly resource-rich areas of the West Philippine Sea.
Tensions over the long-running dispute have escalated in recent months amid assertions by the Philippines and Vietnam that China has become increasingly aggressive in staking its claims to the areas.
The Philippines this month accused China of undermining peace and stability in Asia by allegedly sending naval vessels near Reed Bank to intimidate rival claimants, and of installing posts and a buoy in nearby areas.
The Philippines also protested over incidents in February to May, accusing the Chinese navy of opening fire on Filipino fishermen and intimidating a Philippine oil exploration ship.
In a statement that could further raise tensions, President Aquino said on Tuesday that the country may have to seek help from longtime ally the United States in its dispute with China.
There was no immediate reaction from China regarding the Navy’s removal of the markers.
Navy chief in Palawan
In Palawan, in whose waters most of the disputed islets and shoals are located, Navy chief Vice Admiral Alexander Pama inspected naval facilities and rallied his men to do their best in protecting the West Philippine Sea.
Pama was in Palawan for the launching of a US-led naval exercise involving naval forces from the Philippines and other countries in Southeast Asia. The exercise is called Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training or SEACAT 2011.
But Tonsay said Pama’s visit was only a routine call on the commander of Western Command, Marine Lt. Gen. Juancho Sabban.
The naval stations visited by Pama were the Apolinario Jalandoon, the Oyster Bay naval detachment of the Carlito Cunanan naval station in Ulugan Point, Macarascas, Puerto Princesa.
“The visit is for the flag officer in command to personally see the personnel (on the ground),” Tonsay said.
The Carlito Cunanan naval station, which overlooks the West Philippine Sea, is being developed to accommodate the Hamilton class cutter BRP Gregorio Del Pilar. Pama said stationing the new vessel in the naval station would cut the Navy’s response time by six hours to possible flashpoints in the West Philippine Sea.
“Time is of the essence here,” Pama said.
Tonsay, meanwhile, said the 10-day SEACAT exercise is intended to test the participating navies’ capabilities in tackling terrorism, transnational crimes and other maritime threats.
Another naval exercise involving the US and Philippine navies - Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training or CARAT - is set on June 28 in the Sulu Sea.
“Exercise SEACAT is a yearly combined exercises conducted along vital sea lanes in Southeast Asia to ensure control of these areas from terrorists, poachers and transnational lawless elements,” Tonsay said.
Peaceful dialogue
Malacañang, meanwhile, welcomed the statements issued by the US and China on the need for peaceful resolution of the West Philippine Sea issue.
“We welcome (Tuesday’s) reaffirmation of the alliance between the Philippines and the United States made by US Ambassador Harry Thomas (Jr.). The strategic partnership between the Philippines and the United States is a positive factor in achieving our and the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) aspiration of peace and stability in the region: an aspiration we believe is also shared by all the countries in the region as well,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a statement.
“We reiterate that peaceful dialogue on a multilateral basis is the best way forward for the Philippines, ASEAN, and all nations with whom we interact,” Lacierda said.
“We are ready to take our place as a reliable member of the community of nations, a nation serious about its commitments and which harmonizes its national interests with its international responsibilities,” he said.
Lacierda said the Aquino administration has already affirmed its commitment to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties as voiced out by President Aquino during the 2nd ASEAN-US Leaders’ Meeting in September last year.
“I believe this is consistent with (US) Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s pronouncements on the South China Sea made just in July of this year, supporting collaborative diplomatic processes. As a peace-loving country, the Philippines supports any efforts to deal with potential irritants in the most peaceful way possible,” Lacierda quoted the President as saying.
The Palace also said it was heartened by China’s declaration, through its foreign ministry, that it would not resort to the use of force to settle the dispute in the West Philippine Sea.
Lacierda said China’s objection to the US intervening in the dispute may be discussed by the two countries themselves.
“The statement from the Chinese foreign ministry is optimistic. It’s good that we heard them say that they are not going to resort to the use of force. It’s something that we certainly welcome,” Lacierda said in a press briefing in Malacañang.
“So at least we have in the region an assurance that no use of force will be necessary to resolve the situation,” he said.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said China expressed hopes other claimant countries would do more for peace and stability in the region.
Asked about the plan of US Sen. Jim Webb to file a bill denouncing China’s behavior in the South China Sea, Lacierda said the Palace would support anything that would lessen the tension and resolve the issue peacefully.
“Anything that will downplay any inflammatory statements is certainly welcome for us. We have always maintained that there should be a peaceful resolution of the conflict in the West Philippines Sea,” he said.
But for the militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, the US statement of support for the Philippines was “classic double-talk.”
“After saying that it will not openly take sides in the Spratlys issue, it is now saying that it will continue working with the Philippines on all issues including the Spratlys,” said Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes.
“Either the Philippine government is too naive or has no sense of history, that it falls so easily for the assurances of Uncle Sam,” he said.
Sen. Gregorio Honasan, for his part, called on the Aquino administration to clarify with the US the nature of the latter’s offer of help.
“The US should make clear what it means when they said, ‘we are one with you.’ Does it mean they will help us? How will they do that? Will they help us through words, or in the filing of a protest against China? What exactly do they mean?” he said.
ASEAN ‘alliance’
In response to China’s muscle flexing, Sen. Edgardo Angara said the administration should negotiate an alliance with other ASEAN countries with claims in the West Philippine Sea.
“It is obvious from China’s continued aggressive behavior and presence that it has enormous economic interest in the Spratly Islands and so do we and Vietnam and other claimants,” Angara said.
“But this brash display of power is undeserved. We need a forum where we can air our protests and resolve our differences diplomatically as this is the only recourse we have,” he added. He said a diplomatic team should be sent to negotiate the creation of such an alliance.
“Clearly, this issue involves more than the Philippines and China. The resolution to this dispute cannot be unilateral. We must seek the help of our allies in the region, primarily the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to help us resolve this conflict once and for all,” Angara said.
“This specialized team should possess the diplomatic and strategic skills, training and knowledge required to successfully negotiate through a dispute of this magnitude and follow through until it is concluded,” he said.
“We must not let what happened to Sabah happen to the Spratly Islands - we lost it because no one followed up on it after the administration changed,” he added.
“We have a big chance of becoming self-sufficient in terms of fuel if we ever get control of the Spratly Islands. Consider that the Malampaya gas field project is just a small fraction of that huge reservoir, yet it has provided a significant amount of fuel to the Philippines,” Angara said.
Former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., for his part, called yesterday on claimant countries to temporarily shelve their sovereignty issues and demilitarize the disputed area.
“In the midst of incendiary rhetoric flowing freely from various capitals across the sea, the bottom line remains: there is still no substitute for dialogue and a negotiated political settlement,” he said.
He said he had proposed to the Communist Party of Vietnam an “Open Seas” system during a recent meeting. He said demilitarizing the area would pave the way for joint oil and gas drilling ventures there.
Aurea Calica, Manny Galvez, Jaime Laude, Eva Visperas, Christina Mendez, Paolo Romero, Marvin Sy, Rhodina Villanueva
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