MANILA, Philippines – The BRP Pampanga, a Philippine Coast Guard
search and rescue vessel, Monday faced off with four Chinese vessels at
the Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) as the territorial impasse
between the Philippines and China over the rock formation reached its
13th day, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, in a local cable news
interview, said the government would not recall the Coast Guard ship
from the shoal, which Beijing has been referring to as Huangyan Island.
“We will leave when we’re ready to leave, not when we’re told to
leave,” said Del Rosario, who later sprained his left ankle before
attending a meeting at Malacañang, preventing him from attending
Monday’s scheduled news conference at the DFA headquarters in Pasay
City.
The DFA head asserted anew the country’s sovereign rights over Bajo
de Masinloc, located 124 nautical miles west of Zambales province.
Manila, he said, would press ahead with its plan to bring the dispute
to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (Itlos), based in
Hamburg, Germany.
Del Rosario also announced that a “career diplomat” would be the
country’s new ambassador to China, replacing businessman Domingo Lee.
He did not name Lee’s replacement, but said the new envoy “should have already learned what the position entails.”
“He’s got to hit the ground running,” according to Del Rosario,
During the same TV interview, he expressed concern over “very
incomplete and even misleading” information about the Philippines-China
negotiations on the conflict that were relayed to Beijing by Ma Keqing,
China’s envoy to the Philippines.
According to Raul Hernandez, the spokesperson of the Department of
Foreign Affairs, Del Rosario was “referring to the agreement that both
governments had decided to withdraw their ships. But there’s no such
agreement yet because it’s still being discussed.”
“And also there’s no agreement yet about the fishing boats that were
poaching and which have actually collected a big amount of endangered
marine species,” said Hernandez.
Asked if the Philippines still trusted China, he said “I don’t know
about mistrust, but maybe some elements were lacking in the negotiations
with China…We need deeper trust from the other side.”
On Monday, Hernandez also reported that “the lone Chinese maritime
surveillance ship is still (at the shoal) while three fishing boats are
inside the (shoal’s) lagoon.”
The BRP Pampanga “is in the area, replacing the BRP Edsa which has returned to its home port to get new provisions.”
The Coast Guard vessel is closely monitoring the activities of the Chinese vessels, according to Hernandez.
Last week, the Chinese Embassy in Manila brushed aside the DFA’s call
to bring the Scarborough Shoal issue to ITLOS, saying it preferred
“friendly consultations” with the Philippines.
According to Hernandez, Beijing has yet to officially respond to Manila’s invitation.
But “we will be reiterating our invitation,” he said, stressing the
Philippines was determined to look for a “durable solution” to the
dispute.
“Our lines with China are open… We’re considering many options, but (the two sides) need to meet again,” he said.
Asked when the negotiations would resume, Hernandez said both sides have been “looking for the right timing.”
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Jerry E. Esplanada | Philippine Daily Inquirer | April 23, 2012 | Article Link
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