MANILA -- The Philippines and China have resumed negotiations in
Manila to ease the escalating maritime tension over the Scarborough
shoal, a Foreign Affairs official said.
"We're continuing the talks. We are working to diffuse the
situation," Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said in a
chance interview at the European Union Day reception in Makati City.
The last known negotiations in Manila took place on April 16, although
China has met the Philippine chargé d’affaires a number of times in
Beijing to reiterate their demand for a Philippine withdrawal from the
shoal.
Since then, China has increased its presence in the lagoon, with
three surveillance ships, seven fishing boats and 23 utility boats, as
against the Philippine Coast Guard's BRP Edsa, a vessel from the aquatic
fisheries bureau, and fishing boats.
The standoff has been going on since April 8.
On May 7, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying said in Beijing that
her country was prepared to deal with an escalation of the conflict at
the shoal, as she accused the Philippines of provocation by sending more
ships to Scarborough, which China calls Huangyan Island.
But del Rosario said that while bilateral consultations with Chinese
Ambassador Ma Keqing will continue, the Philippines will still proceed
with bringing the dispute to the International Tribunal on the Law of
the Sea (Itlos) to legally settle the impasse, despite China’s
objections.
In the same occasion, Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez added
that going to an international arbitration forum such as the Itlos aimed
at having a "permanent and durable solution to the issue in the West
Philippine Sea."
Meanwhile, del Rosario echoed the denial of Malacañang and the Armed
Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that Filipino fishermen are being denied
access by Chinese ships in the area.
"No, that's not true," he told reporters.
Masinloc Mayor Desiree Edora of Zambales earlier received complaints
from Filipino fishermen that Chinese government ships standing guard at
the mouth of the shoal are driving them away.
Edora said the fishermen, fearing for their safety, have ended up fishing outside the lagoon.
'Peaceful' anti-China protests
In a separate interview Thursday night, del Rosario said the
anti-China protests to be staged by Filipinos here and abroad on Friday
is a peaceful, democratic exercise and is a purely private sector
initiative.
"They are out to exercise their right to freedom of expression. This
is a private undertaking. We have nothing to do with this," he said,
noting that even Chinese groups have launched similar actions against
the Philippines abroad.
Del Rosario said that when he was in New York last week for an
official trip, Chinese groups staged a demonstration in front of the
Philippine Consulate there for three days in a row.
"So it's a way to express yourself. The Chinese have used it and our
own civil society here is also using it. We’re trying to get word out
there if we can and we’re sure that these demonstrations are peaceful,”
he added.
The Chinese embassy in Makati has posted a notice in its website
advising their citizens to take precaution and to stay off the road in
view of the protest rally, where some 1,000 people are expected to join,
including former President Ramos and international singer-actress Lea
Salonga.
Both nations claim ownership to the shoal, located 124 nautical miles
from Zambales province and 472 nautical miles from China’s nearest
landmass in Hainan province.
Manila also said Scarborough is well within its 200-nautical mile
exclusive economic zone and extended continental shelf as outlined by
the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, of which both
countries are signatories.
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SunStar.Com.Ph | May 10, 2012 | Article Link
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