Vietnam Spratlys tours spark RP protest

The Philippines warned Vietnam yesterday to comply with the code of conduct signed by countries claiming the Spratlys as Hanoi finally pushed through with its plan to send tourists to the disputed islands.

"We will remind Vietnam that there is a code of conduct (telling that) signatories, including Vietnam, should refrain from committing acts" that might cause or increase tensions in the area, acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Franklin Ebdalin said. He was reacting to reports that Vietnam sent 60 Vietnamese tourists and 40 "invited" officials on a boat tour of the Spratly islands without any prior consultation with other claimants and despite protests from China.

However, he noted that they are already discussing the implications of Vietnam’s move in relation to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties signed in November 2002 by China and the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Four ASEAN members lay claim to the Spratlys: Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. The other claimants are China and Taiwan.

Ebdalin said that after the declaration was signed, the signatories agreed to honor a status quo on all activities in the Spratly islands.

He said the Philippine government has complied with the declaration in good faith even as it continues to pursue its claim on parts of the South China Sea archipelago.

"Each country wants to fortify its claims (on the islands). After the code of conduct, we didn’t do anything. We always honor our commitments," Ebdalin said. — Marvin Sy, AFP, AP