Philippines to China: Ensure freedom of navigation, halt construction

MANILA, Philippines - China can better help ensure freedom of navigation in the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea by not proceeding with its plan to construct facilities on lands it has reclaimed in disputed areas, Malacañang stressed yesterday.

Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua announced Tuesday night that Beijing is set to construct facilities on its artificial islands to support freedom of navigation, search and rescue efforts in case of accidents, and scientific research.

Zhao added China meant it when it said it had completed its reclamation activities in the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea.

In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario had made clear the country’s position during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ foreign ministers’ summit in Kuala Lumpur last week that China must stop reclamation, construction and other activities that heighten tension in the disputed areas. “That remains our position,” Coloma said.

Coloma said the Philippines would continue to press for resolving the dispute through peaceful and diplomatic means as Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio warned of an arms race in the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea in the event of an unfavorable decision by a United Nations tribunal on Manila’s arbitration case against China.

Coloma said that while Carpio has reasonable basis for his warning, the Philippines remains focused on “rules based, diplomatic approach to achieving a peaceful solution.”

During Carpio’s meeting with senators on Wednesday, Coloma said the SC justice noted the importance of unity among ASEAN member-countries on the West Philippine Sea dispute.

Coloma also noted Carpio’s pronouncement that ASEAN was trying to come up with a more substantial and legally binding code of conduct in the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea.

“That is the focus of our attention,” Coloma said.

Carpio, an expert in the West Philippine Sea dispute, said the Philippines could expect a ruling on jurisdiction issue this month or in September. If the court decides it has jurisdiction, he said a decision on the merits of the case may be available in May 2016.

Carpio believes the Philippines can win the case, but if it does not, “it only means that the rule of law will not apply.”

“We’ll have to pay more taxes to buy warplanes and warships,” he said. “There will be a naval arms race. It’s really happening now,” he said.

The Philippine military, however, is among the most under-funded and poorly equipped in the world.

In contrast, China, the world’s second largest economy, has been increasing its defense budget over the years to ramp up its military capability.

Beijing’s recent defense white paper stressed the importance of beefing up its navy as it projects its power globally.

The Department of Transportation and Communications, for its part, is planning to conduct a feasibility study on the proposed building of a sheltered port in Pag-Asa Island off Palawan in the disputed Spratlys archipelago.

This DOTC plan was in response to a letter-request early this year from Kalayaan town Mayor Eugenio Bito-onon Jr., to President Aquino, for a P256-million budget for the construction of a pier in Pag-Asa.

“We would like to inform you that we plan to conduct feasibility study on the proposed subject project,” Enrico Ferre, DOTC’s Water Transport Planning Division chief, told Bito-onon in a letter dated July 28.

Even before China’s massive reclamation activities, Bito-onon had already been lobbying for funding support from the national leadership for his planned development projects in his island town.

Meanwhile, Secretary Del Rosario received on Monday a delegation of Japanese parliamentarians with whom he exchanged views on bilateral relations and international developments. The Japanese guests were led by Mikio Shimoji of the Japan Innovation Party. With Jaime Laude, Pia Lee-Brago