MANILA, Philippines—Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said China was
singling out the Philippines because it has the weakest defense
capability among the six nations that have laid claim to the oil-rich
Spratly Islands in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
In a news forum with defense reporters Tuesday, Gazmin was asked why
China would protest every move made by the Philippines on its claimed
territory when it does not do the same against the likes of Vietnam and
Malaysia which have also built on occupied islands.
“Maybe we’re their favorite,” Gazmin said. “They see that in the
region in terms of the capability of the armed forces, we are the
weakest. You look at Malaysia, they have a strong armed forces. Vietnam
has a strong armed forces. Brunei also has a strong armed forces.
“We are below par. So of course if you are going to bully, you would
look for the weakest. You do not get someone who is your equal.”
The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam claim portions of the Spratlys, which China claims entirely.
China’s latest protest had to do with the Philippines’ reported plan
to construct a beaching ramp on Pag-asa Island, the biggest of the
Philippine-occupied islands in the Spratlys collectively referred to as
the Kalayaan group of islands.
Kalayaan is considered a municipality of Palawan province.
“Pag-asa is ours. We have a mayor there, we have a Philippine flag.
Why do we need to ask permission from whichever country if we have to do
repairs,” Gazmin asked. “If you do that, it means you doubt whether
it’s yours. But that is ours. We don’t have to ask permission from
anyone.”
Gazmin said the beaching ramp and other developmental projects
planned on Pag-asa could not be interpreted as military construction.
“Those are not for the military. That is for commercial and tourist
purposes, for our economic growth. It is not a military base although we
do have a military post there. But that is not what we will expand,” he
said.
He said they are concentrating on constructing a beaching ramp for
now to help the island’s residents. He said it would cost about P300
million.
“We will just have to pool our resources together to be able to realize its completion,” Gazmin said.
He said after the completing the beaching ramp, they will think of
how to further develop the island, saying he was misquoted in having
said that they plan to develop Pag-asa Island as a tourist spot.
“We will first discuss where we’re headed,” Gazmin said, adding the
island offers many opportunities once the beaching ramp is constructed
and the runway repaired.
He said while other nations have developed their claimed islands into
tourist spots, Pag-asa could also be a regular source of fisheries and
aquatic resources.
Kalayaan Mayor Eugenio Biton-onon has said the ramp would be
constructed by the Philippine Ports Authority with the help of the
Philippine Navy to help their community.
He said the beaching ramp will allow “ro-ro” (roll-on roll-off) ships
to beach and unload their cargo directly on the island’s shore.
Currently, people and supplies brought in by ships have to be
transferred to small boats and the residents then haul in the supplies
by wading in the water.
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Dona Z. Pazzibugan | Philippine Daily Inquirer | April 3, 2012 | Article Link
