Is Chinese frigate truly leaving Hasa-Hasa shoal?

Condolences to the family of Maita Gomez, our late comrade in the fight for reforms.

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The Chinese warship that ran aground in a Palawan shoal has been unstuck and was preparing to leave. So claimed China’s embassy in Manila yesterday. But Philippine officials were watchful, as surveillance aircraft saw no signs of departure by the frigate or its six supposed rescue vessels.

The 10 a.m. embassy announcement quoted a Beijing defense ministry report five hours earlier. “The grounded frigate ... was refloated successfully, with minor damage in the stern part,” it said. “All personnel aboard are safe. Now the preparation for return to the port is underway. No contamination has been caused in the incident area.”

The Philippine foreign office did not immediately confirm the Chinese story. Defense officials wanted to know if the Thursday night grounding on Hasa-Hasa (Half Moon) Shoal, 60 nautical miles (111 kilometers) off Rizal town, Palawan, was accidental. The Coast Guard has yet to ascertain the claim of no fuel or waste spill, as well as damage to rocks and reefs where fish spawn and feed.

Two Philippine craft from the Navy and Coast Guard were on standby to render assistance if asked. Manila is wary because Beijing, on pretext of protecting fishermen in 1995, had put up fortifications in Panganiban (Mischief) Reef, 120 miles off Palawan and well within the Philippines’ 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Beijing is duplicitous about its maritime movements, leading to frequent territorial rows with the Philippines and Vietnam. The latest was a two-month standoff till last June with the Philippines in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, 70 miles off Zambales. First three, then six, then nine Chinese government ships faced off with one Coast Guard vessel that was shooing from the shoal Chinese poachers of endangered corals, giant clams, and sea turtles.

To cool down tensions, Beijing and Manila declared a fishing ban in the shoal. But China did not enforce its end, abetting the illegal harvest of protected marine species by three-dozen launches from Hainan, China’s nearest province 900 miles away. Thrice too, China vowed to leave Panatag simultaneously with the Philippines, but reneged.

China has also been trespassing in Recto (Reed) Bank where the Philippines is drilling for oil 80 miles off Palawan. Last year it attempted to plant its flag and buoys in surrounding seamarks: Quirino (Jackson) Atoll, Amy Douglas Bank, Rajah Soliman (Boxall) Reef, Escoda (Sabina) Shoal, and Rizal (Commodore) Reef.

Chinese poachers also routinely enter the Philippine interior Sulu Sea, to steal fish at Tubbataha Reef, a UN Wildlife Heritage Sanctuary.

In 2009 China unilaterally annexed the whole West Philippine (South China) Sea, via a map with nine border dashes. The nine-dash line claim would push back the Philippines’ 200-mile EEZ to its coasts, and deprive it of municipal waters that extend 30 kilometers from shore.

It is not farfetched that the Chinese naval vessel No. 560 was circling Hasa-Hasa Shoal to enforce the unfounded claim. If so, China may have stepped up its militarization of the territorial dispute. It has been trumpeting a peaceful economic rise while bullying smaller neighbors.

The situation comes in the heels of the ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting last week to craft a code of conduct on sea disputes. At the last minute, host Cambodia thwarted the release of a joint communiqué, the first time it happened to the 45-year-old, ten-nation grouping. China opposes the code of conduct; Cambodia has been enjoying increasing trade and aid from the northern giant.

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The country’s Big League Girls Softball Team lacked funding for the Asia-Pacific eliminations last June. So only 12 of the 16 players, aged 14-18, were able fly to the Jakarta games. Yet they proved themselves, shutting out Indonesia thrice: 23-0, 26-0, and 16-0. Fatigue had set in that last game, but still they prevented the other side from scoring.

Now as regional champs, they are listed to play in the Big League World Series on August 2-8. But that’s only if they can raise the round-trip plane fare to Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Thirteen of the 16 are lined up this time. A ticket costs $1,850.

Organizers are not so worried about the food and quarters. Like in Jakarta where Ambassador Maria Rosario Aguinaldo tasked the Filipino community to host the girls, three to a home, Filipino Michiganders will take care of them.

The Girls Softball Team is composed of mostly poor provincials studying in four universities in Manila: Rizza Bernardino, pitcher/1st base, from Laguna; Glesyl Opjer, pitcher/outfielder, of Silay, Negros Occidental; Michelle Lentija, pitcher/1st/3rd base, Bacolod City; Gene Joy Parilla, centerfielder, Cagayan de Oro City; Mary Jane Fabellar, 2nd base, Cavite City; Andrea Mae Gonzalez, right fielder, Bacolod City;

Queeny Sabobo, shortstop, Negros Occidental; Baby Jane Raro, pitcher, Cagayan de Oro; Krisna Paguican, outfielder, Cagayan de Oro; Maria Luna Amparo, catcher/2nd base, Misamis Oriental; Kristine Joy Lacupa, pitcher/centerfielder, Iloilo City; Charmaine Joy Oria, catcher/3rd base, Bacolod; and Mary Joy Floranza, leftfielder, Antipolo.

Team officials: Manila Councilor Rafael Borromeo, Manila Little League president; Ana Maria Santiago, head coach; Sheirylou Valenzuela and Sandy George Barredo Jr., assistant coaches.

Contact: [email protected] or [email protected].

So far they’ve raised the fare for one player, courtesy of Betty Abalos, who saw them play in Jakarta. With donors’ help, they can be world champions. The Girls Softball Team almost made it thrice before, landing second in the 2008, 2010 and 2011 World Series.

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E-mail: [email protected]