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Philippines-China WPS Dispute
Topic Started: Jul 15 2012, 02:28 PM (105,087 Views)
Mckoyzzz
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Palace: PH not giving up vs China
By Norman Bordadora, Tina Santos Philippine Daily Inquirer
1:47 am | Sunday, July 15th, 2012

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang on Saturday said the Philippines would continue to press for a multilateral solution to territorial disputes in the region before the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and other international fora.

A close adviser to President Benigno Aquino III, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, acknowledged that the absence of a joint statement by the Asean on the ongoing dispute between the Philippines and China over the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal was “a momentary setback.”

However, Secretary Ronald Llamas, the President’s adviser on political affairs, said it was “too early to say that the Asean efforts have failed.”

“We will continue to bring the issue up to Asean as well as at other international fora. It’s an issue that involves not just the Philippines but every country that has shorelines in the South China Sea,” added Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang.

Carandang said that in the drafting of a joint communiqué following the meeting of the foreign ministers, there was already a consensus to simply mention that there were discussions on disputes over shoals and similar outcrops in the contested waters. However, “Cambodia blocked the consensus,” he said.

The Philippines is pushing for a code of conduct in what it calls the West Philippine Sea that would be binding to all claimant states, including China.

“Perhaps the recent tensions are still too fresh and the leadership transition in China is still in flux to allow the desired consensus on this initiative at this time,” Abad said in a text message.

“The prudent recourse is not to give up on the idea and continue to pursue the advocacy within the Asean and other fora through creative ways. It may well be a question of timing,” he added.

Full Story at Inquirer
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Mckoyzzz
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'Right makes might'
(The Philippine Star) Updated July 16, 2012

The following is the “intervention” of Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario during the plenary session of the 2nd East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting last Thursday in Phnom Penh, Cambodia:

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I appreciate Secretary Clinton’s statement. I also stand by the foreign minister of Indonesia who said that consistent with the EAS’ objectives, the EAS must respond in a timely manner to important developments. I express satisfaction for the statement of the representative of Brunei on giving focus to issues of concern related to peace and stability in the region. I also express appreciation to the foreign minister of Thailand who stressed the import of regional peace and stability and the need to tackle pressing issues, even if they are contentious. Let us also be reminded that our leaders had determined last year that regional issues should be given primacy. 

The East Asia Summit is a “forum for dialogue on broad strategic, political and economic issues of common interest and concern with the aim of promoting peace, stability, and economic prosperity in East Asia.”

In this context, I wish to bring to this body’s attention a subject which directly bears on the future direction of the EAS, in relation to its avowed objectives. How we respond to this subject would test the relevance of the EAS in this changing and increasingly complex regional environment.

Please allow me to refer to a member-State’s aggressive infringement on Philippine sovereignty over Bajo de Masinloc and Philippine sovereign rights over its Exclusive Economic Zone, which poses a threat to regional peace and stability.

Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal, is an integral part of the Philippines and is about 124 nautical miles from the coast of our Luzon island. In contrast, the shoal is nearly 500 nautical miles from the nearest coast of that member-State. The waters of the shoal are well within the 200-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Philippines.

Over the years, foreigners who engaged in illegal fishing and poaching had been arrested by our law enforcers. The Philippines also registered its lighthouse in the shoal before the International Maritime Organization (IMO). It was also used as a gunnery range by Philippines and US military forces. To the best of our knowledge, none of these actions had elicited any protest from any country, even from that member-State. The Philippines has exercised long, continuous, and peaceful jurisdiction over the shoal.

However, last April 8, the member-State’s maritime surveillance vessels travelled nearly 500 nautical miles from its coast, and for the first time prevented, with the threat of use of force, Philippine authorities from arresting fishermen from that member-State who were poaching for endangered species within our EEZ. Further, the member-State intimidated Philippine law enforcers to leave the shoal; in effect, driving us out from our own EEZ.

The Philippines has been approaching this issue with patience and with tolerance as we try to avail ourselves of all peaceful means to resolve it in accordance with the rule of law.

However, the member-State has escalated the tensions in the shoal by deploying its vessels in increasing numbers; at one point, numbering 77. In contrast, Philippine presence in the area consisted of not more than three vessels, but most of the time just one. To defuse the tension, the Philippines forged an agreement with the member-State for the simultaneous pullout of all vessels inside the shoal, which we undertook in good faith last June 4. Yet, the member-State did not fulfill its end of the bargain and has maintained its ships inside and outside the shoal, in its aim to establish effective control and jurisdiction in the shoal and its surrounding waters. Further, by various means, the member-State has applied economic pressure on the Philippines to impose its will.

This alarming development is part and parcel of the member-State’s creeping imposition of its claim over the entire South China Sea. In the case of the Philippines, it began with the member-State’s occupation in the mid-90s of Panganiban Reef, also known as Mischief Reef, which is about 125 nautical miles from the coast of our island-province of Palawan. In 2010, the member-State harassed a survey ship which was conducting seismic survey in our Recto Bank or the Reed Bank which is about 85 nautical miles from Palawan, and nearly 600 nautical miles from the nearest coastline of the member-State. In 2011, this member-State’s creeping assertion has moved much closer to our coast. It tried to assert sovereignty over oil blocks 3 and 4 which are continental shelves located only about 60 and 30 nautical miles, respectively, from our island of Palawan. And early this year, as I had recounted previously, this member-State moved to the shoal. At present, its vessels continue to move in and out of the shoal.

This member-State’s actions are gross violations of the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration of Conduct in the South China Sea and the United Nations Charter prohibiting the use of force or threat of use of force.

Mr. Chairman,

Excellencies,

If Philippine sovereignty and jurisdiction can be denigrated by a powerful country through pressure, duplicity, intimidation, and the threat of use of force, the international community should be concerned about the behavior of this member-State which has negative implications to the overall peace and stability and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.

The Philippines has consistently advocated, in both words and deeds, a peaceful and rules-based approach in resolving disputes, in accordance with international law, specifically the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. It is our firmly held position that the rule of law is the great equalizer among States.

In keeping with this, the Philippines actively participated in identifying the main elements of the Code of Conduct and, in this regard, expresses its appreciation for the hard work of our ASEAN colleagues. We look forward to the early conclusion of a binding Code of Conduct with China.

In this modern day and age of interdependence, the dictum that “might is right” should have no place in the community of States. Instead, the principle that “right is might” should govern the relations among peace-loving nations.
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Prinsipe Abante
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Philippines warns China fishermen to stay away

Agence France-Presse
Posted at 07/16/2012 7:55 PM | Updated as of 07/16/2012 7:55 PM


MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines on Monday warned a large Chinese fishing fleet in the Spratlys to stay clear of its waters amid a continuing face-off between the two countries over disputed territory.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said the Philippine coastguard would check on the location of the Chinese vessels in the South China Sea, to ensure they do not enter the country's 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

"If these (ships) are going to our EEZ, we will file a protest because this is our EEZ and it is only the Philippines (that has) the sovereign right to explore, exploit and manage the resources in that area," he told reporters.

"We require China to respect the sovereign rights of the Philippines," he stressed.

He cited reports that the fleet of 30 fishing vessels from Hainan had arrived at a point near the Yongshu Reef in the Spratlys, parts of which are claimed by the Philippines, China, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.

China and the Philippines have been in a stand-off over disputed territory within the sea since April, when Chinese government ships prevented the Filipino navy from arresting Chinese fishermen at the Scarborough Shoal.

The Philippines withdrew its ships from the shoal in June in an effort to reduce tensions.

However China had not followed suit, said Hernandez. He said that on Friday a coastguard plane sighted three Chinese government vessels, six fishing boats, two speedboats and several small dinghies still around the Scarborough Shoal.

Chinese-Philippine tensions have increased due to the standoff, with the Philippines accusing China of "duplicity" and "intimidation" at a recent regional forum in Cambodia.

China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, even waters close to the coasts of neighbouring countries. The Philippines says the Scarborough Shoal is well within its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.

-http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/07/16/12/philippines-warns-china-fishermen-stay-away


Protest? Hindi po ba pwede na ibalik ang US bases kahit pansamantala sa atin, tapos para magawa nila yung kagaya sa Australia? -http://maritimesecurity.asia/free-2/mariti...llegal-fishing/
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Mckoyzzz
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PHL urged to send own fishing fleet to South China Sea
ANDREO C. CALONZO, GMA NEWS July 26, 2012 3:43pm

The chairperson of the House committee of the national defense and security on Thursday called on government to send its own fishing fleet to disputed territories in the West Philippine (South China) Sea.

Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon, who once served as Philippine military chief, said the fleet is one way of asserting the country’s claim to disputed islands in West Philippine Sea.

'I am recommending that Coast Guard and Bureau of Fisheries ships go back to those territories and show our flag. We should also organize Filipino fishermen to comprise a fishing fleet, to be escorted by the Philippine Navy if necessary,' Biazon said in a press briefing.

The lawmaker’s proposal came after at least 20 Chinese fishing boats reportedly congregated in a portion of the Spratly Islands.

The Spratlys is a string of atolls and islands straddling vital shipping lanes in the West Philippine Sea and is believed sitting atop vast mineral deposits. It is being claimed in whole or in part by China, Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines.

The Philippines is also locking horns with China for the past three months over ownership of Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, 124 nautical miles off Zambales.

Lodge protests vs. China

Biazon urged the Department of Foreign Affairs not to let China get away with encroachments on Philippine territory.

'At any time China commits an act in violation of international law, we must always file a protest,' he said.

Lodging these diplomatic protests will cement the country’s claims over disputed territories under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), he added.

'Kasi kung pupunta tayo sa UN, tatanungin tayo kung ano ang ginagawa natin… The UNCLOS favors us. Let us focus our attention there,' he said.

The Philippines uses UNCLOS as basis of its sovereignty over portions of Spratly Islands, while China bases its claim on historical data.

The lawmaker, however, said that both the Philippines and China should make sure that the territorial dispute is settled through peaceful means.

'Pinipilit ninyong hilahin ang usapin sa giyera, pero ang usapin ay dapat sa UN. Hindi sa giyera. Hindi ito palakihan ng barko,' he said.

Still, Biazon said the UN should be ready to send peacekeeping forces to the West Philippine Sea if tensions in the area escalate. — VS, GMA News


GMA NEWS
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AZKALS
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Edited by AZKALS, Jul 28 2012, 09:06 AM.


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Maubanin70
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Mckoyzzz
Jul 26 2012, 07:35 PM
PHL urged to send own fishing fleet to South China Sea
ANDREO C. CALONZO, GMA NEWS July 26, 2012 3:43pm

The chairperson of the House committee of the national defense and security on Thursday called on government to send its own fishing fleet to disputed territories in the West Philippine (South China) Sea.

Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon, who once served as Philippine military chief, said the fleet is one way of asserting the country’s claim to disputed islands in West Philippine Sea.

'I am recommending that Coast Guard and Bureau of Fisheries ships go back to those territories and show our flag. We should also organize Filipino fishermen to comprise a fishing fleet, to be escorted by the Philippine Navy if necessary,' Biazon said in a press briefing.

The lawmaker’s proposal came after at least 20 Chinese fishing boats reportedly congregated in a portion of the Spratly Islands.

The Spratlys is a string of atolls and islands straddling vital shipping lanes in the West Philippine Sea and is believed sitting atop vast mineral deposits. It is being claimed in whole or in part by China, Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines.

The Philippines is also locking horns with China for the past three months over ownership of Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, 124 nautical miles off Zambales.

Lodge protests vs. China

Biazon urged the Department of Foreign Affairs not to let China get away with encroachments on Philippine territory.

'At any time China commits an act in violation of international law, we must always file a protest,' he said.

Lodging these diplomatic protests will cement the country’s claims over disputed territories under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), he added.

'Kasi kung pupunta tayo sa UN, tatanungin tayo kung ano ang ginagawa natin… The UNCLOS favors us. Let us focus our attention there,' he said.

The Philippines uses UNCLOS as basis of its sovereignty over portions of Spratly Islands, while China bases its claim on historical data.

The lawmaker, however, said that both the Philippines and China should make sure that the territorial dispute is settled through peaceful means.

'Pinipilit ninyong hilahin ang usapin sa giyera, pero ang usapin ay dapat sa UN. Hindi sa giyera. Hindi ito palakihan ng barko,' he said.

Still, Biazon said the UN should be ready to send peacekeeping forces to the West Philippine Sea if tensions in the area escalate. — VS, GMA News


GMA NEWS
Di ata alam ni Cong. biazon na both parties has to be willing to go to UNCLOS to resolve the dispute. Eh kung ayaw ng China? Plus China is one of the 5 permanent UN Security council that has veto rights. Padala daw ng UN hahahaha :headbang:
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Goose
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all this talk about "talk" will not work.. China's intentions is very very clear, as in crystal clear.. we're hyper ventilating the diplomatic and peaceful approach because there is nothing, as in nothing, we can really do against this member-state. no less than our president has said to media that our poor country have already bent over to China. we bend over and provided our ass. and yet, nothing. does this remind you of Hitler's Germany? Poland? Peaceful rapprochement? History repeating itself? a great power bullying a weak country and treating it as a scumbag?

Grabbed Mischief reef away from us

Threatened and disrespected our brand-new flagship

On the verge of grabbing yet again another reef from us - Scarborough Shoal

Fooled us into withdrawing our over-matched coast guard rescue boat and a puny research vessel, compared to their big, advanced and heavily-armed maritime ships

continuous poaching, destruction of our corals and illegal fishing in our very own waters

their missile-armed frigates and destroyers patrolling our Exclusive Economic Zone, doesn't it have to be us patrolling our EEZ. can you imagine the Philippine Navy with frigates, or the Rajah Humabon, patrolling this member-states EEZ?

still not giving up?

this is what we get for neglecting the armed forces, as retired general Farolan said in one of his columns we are now reaping the neglect of our armed forces, how true.
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Parastriker
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Goose
Jul 29 2012, 12:30 AM
all this talk about "talk" will not work.. China's intentions is very very clear, as in crystal clear.. we're hyper ventilating the diplomatic and peaceful approach because there is nothing, as in nothing, we can really do against this member-state. no less than our president has said to media that our poor country have already bent over to China. we bend over and provided our ass. and yet, nothing. does this remind you of Hitler's Germany? Poland? Peaceful rapprochement? History repeating itself? a great power bullying a weak country and treating it as a scumbag?

Grabbed Mischief reef away from us

Threatened and disrespected our brand-new flagship

On the verge of grabbing yet again another reef from us - Scarborough Shoal

Fooled us into withdrawing our over-matched coast guard rescue boat and a puny research vessel, compared to their big, advanced and heavily-armed maritime ships

continuous poaching, destruction of our corals and illegal fishing in our very own waters

their missile-armed frigates and destroyers patrolling our Exclusive Economic Zone, doesn't it have to be us patrolling our EEZ. can you imagine the Philippine Navy with frigates, or the Rajah Humabon, patrolling this member-states EEZ?

still not giving up?

this is what we get for neglecting the armed forces, as retired general Farolan said in one of his columns we are now reaping the neglect of our armed forces, how true.
Forgive me for being OT, but,

Let us just say that the reason for this is that the Arroyo Administration thought that China was too powerful to be fought, and distrusting American Help due to the fact of cordial Sino-American relationships, they thought that the easiest way out is not to fight the very powerful devil, but instead give in to the devil and be his friend.

That's my psychology of Arroyo's Administration, anyway.
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Panibagong nakakainit ng dugo!
--------------------------------------
Pag-asa island municipal workers want to go out to stop Chinese
Philippine Daily Inquirer
2:03 am | Saturday, July 28th, 2012

MANILA, Philippines—Employees of the municipal government on Pag-asa reported on Friday that Chinese fishermen continued collecting corals from the edge of islands on the fringe of reefs 3 kilometers from Pag-asa. “We counted at least five large fishing boats from the eastern side of the island,” said Ronnie Cojambo, a municipal employee, told the Inquirer by text message. “At least two were new and just arrived.”
Kalayaan Mayor Eugenio Bito-onon said the municipal staff on the island had wanted to go out to stop the Chinese but he had prevailed on them not do anything, as the matter was for the DFA to deal with.

Coral destruction

Bito-onon said he also ordered the Kalayaan sea patrol to refrain from accosting to the Chinese fishermen.
“We will just let the DFA handle this matter,” he said.

A marine conservation expert said on Friday the coral mining by the Chinese off Pag-asa would have a serious impact on important marine ecosystems around the Coral Triangle. Romeo Trono, former head of Conservation International Philippines and the turtle conservation program of the government, urged countries bound by the international agreements to protect the Coral Triangle to help ask China to stop its fishermen from mining corals in the West Philippine Sea.

Rex Robles, a retired Navy officer, said the government should ask the United Nations not for a peacekeeping force but for a maritime patrol to protect the Philippine environment from Chinese destruction. “The corals have been there for years, and now they’re destroying them in an hour or two,” Robles said. “There should be patrols in the whole area there, which should be declared a sanctuary and supervised accordingly,” he said. TJ Burgonio in Manila and Redempto Anda, Inquirer Southern Luzon.

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/45809/pag-asa-island-municipal-workers-want-to-go-out-to-stop-chinese
"Men of War must learn the art of numbers or he will not know how to array his troops." - Plato

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Ayoshi
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Chinese fishing fleet, escorts gone from Pagasa Island -- AFP
www.interaksyon.com

Lt. Col. Neil Estrella, Western Command spokesperson, said air patrols no longer detect the presence of the Chinese ships.
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"We no longer have visual sighting on them (at the vicinity of Pagasa, the largest geographical fixture claimed by the Philippines in the Spratlys Island Group)," he added.

Quote:
 
However, the Western Command spokesperson refused to comment on whether the ships actually fished near the territorial waters of Pagasa, adding they are still trying to confirm that.

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