China Is Bullying Philippines

Polaris Burmese Library Collections
The Fight For Freedom in Burma

Democracy and Human Rights Without Borders

1
::-.+.;::,:--.-:;
:.:. :; :. -:;::; --:: -:;

Peace, Democracy, Humanrights Digest 036
CAUSE OF INSTABILITY IN REGION-
CHINA IS BULLYING PHILIPPINES

By ( ) , 12 2012

2
(Luzon)
(Scarborough Shoal)

(Scarborough
Shoal)
(Albert del Rosario)

(Gregorio del Pilar)

Philippines, China recall protest to ease
standoff
(AP)
13 April 2012
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines and China agreed Friday to set aside their
diplomatic protests in order to ease tensions over a naval standoff in the disputed
South China Sea, the top Filipino diplomat said.
China also pulled back one of three surveillance ships at the Scarborough Shoal off
the northwestern Philippines, Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario told
reporters. But the impasse remained with two other Chinese ships facing off a
Philippine coast guard vessel.

3
Del Rosario said that Chinas ambassador presented her own proposal to end the
standoff, which began early this week when Chinese ships prevented the Philippine
navy from detaining Chinese fishermen who were allegedly caught poaching.
Both sides claim the uninhabited, horseshoe-shaped shoal, which lies about 200
kilometers (120 miles) from Zambales province, the nearest Philippine coast.
The 4-day-old standoff has reignited concern for potential conflict in the South China
Sea, one of the worlds busiest lanes that is also home to a myriad of competing
territorial claims, most notably the Spratly Islands south of the shoal.
The disputes have settled into an uneasy standoff since the last major clash, which
involved China and Vietnam and killed more than 70 Vietnamese sailors in 1988.
The barren islands, reefs and coral outcrops are claimed by China, the Philippines,
Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan. They are rich fishing grounds and are
believed to contain oil and gas reserves.
I think that we were able to succeed in moving forward by a few steps but there
are other matters that remain outstanding, Del Rosario said, adding that the talks in
Manila would continue.
We both want this resolved as soon as possible. Weve agreed that both sides will
not do anything to escalate the situation there any further, he said.
The U.S. has angered Beijing by declaring it is in U.S. national interest to ensure the
area remained stable.
On Friday, Vietnamese monk Thich Giac Nghia said five Buddhist monks had set sail
a day earlier for the Spratlys, where they plan to practice and teach their religion for
six months to a year. Nghia earlier said the monks were traveling voluntarily to help
defend their countrys territorial claim.
In March, Vietnam protested after Chinese forces allegedly intercepted two fishing
boats near the disputed Paracel Islands, seizing 21 fishermen.

4
Philippines and China clash as tensions
rise over oil-rich seas
Joel Guinto, Daniel Ten Kate
April 12, 2012
Disputed waters ... Philippine navy troops inspect a Chinese fishing vessel after it was
intercepted in the South China Sea. Photo: DFA
MANILA: The Philippines' biggest warship, obtained from the United States last year,
was locked in a standoff with Chinese vessels over fishing in the South China Sea
yesterday, increasing tensions in disputed waters rich in oil and gas deposits.
Philippine personnel attempting to arrest Chinese fishermen aboard eight boats on
the Scarborough Shoal were blocked by two marine surveillance ships, the foreign
affairs department in Manila said in a statement.
The Philippines summoned the Chinese envoy in Manila to seek a ''diplomatic
solution''.
The latest incident comes as the Philippines tries to build support among the south-
east Asian nations for a common position on territorial disputes in the South China
Sea.

5
China claims most of the waters as its own and used patrol boats last year to disrupt
hydrocarbon survey activities, chasing away a ship working for Forum Energy off the
Philippines and slicing cables of a vessel doing work for Vietnam.
''It's the law of physics: two competing parties cannot occupy the same space at the
same time,'' said Carlyle Thayer, a politics professor at the ADF academy in
Canberra.
''The danger now that this has been publicised is growing nationalism in the
Philippines that leads to greater resolve for the Philippines to take action.''
The Chinese fishermen were first spotted in the area on April 8, according to the
Philippine statement, which referred to the waters as ''an integral part of Philippine
territory''.
The Philippine foreign secretary, Albert del Rosario, asked China's ambassador in
Manila, Ma Keqing, to discuss the issue today, according to the statement.
The US has a mutual defence treaty with the Philippines and has boosted military
relations with Vietnam in recent years.
Both of the countries reject China's map of the South China Sea as a basis for joint
development of oil and gas resources, and have pushed ahead with exploration
work, leading to more confrontations as China expands the use of its marine
surveillance vessels.
The South China Sea contains oil reserves that may total as much as 213 billion
barrels, according to Chinese studies cited in 2008 by the US Energy Information
Agency.

6
Philippines shuffles ships in maritime
standoff with China
By the CNN Wire Staff
April 12, 2012 -- Updated 1009 GMT (1809 HKT)
Philippine Navy Vice Admiral Alexander Pama speaks during a press conference in
Manila on Wednesday
Hong Kong (CNN) -- The Philippines said Thursday that it had pulled its largest naval
vessel away from a remote lagoon in the South China Sea where it was engaged in
an uneasy standoff with two Chinese maritime surveillance ships.
But the tense situation is not yet resolved, as a Philippine coast guard boat remains
at the scene, and a third Chinese ship has arrived, said Raul Hernandez, a
spokesman for the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs.
The Philippine naval vessel -- the BRP Gregorio del Pilar, a 378-foot cutter -- has
moved away from the lagoon for "reprovisioning" and a decision has not yet been
announced on whether it will return, Hernandez said.

7
He said negotiations were continuing with the Chinese in the hope of finding a
"diplomatic solution" to the impasse at Scarborough Shoal, which both countries
claim is "an integral part" of their territory. Scarborough Shoal is about 200
kilometers west of the Philippine mainland.
"For now, the ball is on the side of the Chinese," Hernandez said.
The Philippines sent the Gregorio del Pilar to the area of Scarborough Shoal on
Sunday after surveillance aircraft spotted eight Chinese fishing boats anchored inside
the lagoon.
A boarding team from the Gregorio del Pilar went to inspect the Chinese fishing
boats Tuesday morning and found "large amounts of illegally collected corals, giant
clams and live sharks" inside one of the boats, according to the Philippine
government.
Later Tuesday, the Gregorio del Pilar reported that the two Chinese surveillance
ships had arrived and taken up a position at the mouth of the lagoon, blocking the
way to the fishing boats and "preventing the arrest" of the fishermen.
The Philippines said Thursday that it had sent the coast guard vessel to support the
Gregorio del Pilar. It also reported the arrival of the third Chinese vessel, which it
said was from China's Bureau of Fisheries.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila has complained to the Philippine authorities about
"the harassment of Chinese fishermen," China's official news agency, Xinhua,
reported Wednesday.
China has "urged the Philippine side to stop immediately their illegal activities and
leave the area," Xinhua reported, saying that the fishermen were taking shelter in
the lagoon "due to harsh weather conditions."
The embassy is "engaged in discussions with the Philippine Department of Foreign
Affairs to seek a solution" and maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea,
Xinhua said.
The South China Sea -- a 1.3 million square mile patch of the Pacific Ocean
bracketed by China and several Southeast Asian nations -- is dotted with hundreds

8
of largely uninhabited islands and coral atolls that are home to some of the world's
most diverse marine life. Also under its waves lie potentially huge reserves of natural
gas and oil.
That prospect has peppered the sea with competing claims from China, Vietnam, the
Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. It has also resulted in frequent small-scale
clashes. Last year, a spate of incidents took place between Chinese and Vietnamese
vessels.
Philippines deploys second ship in
China standoff
By Jason Gutierrez | AFP Thu, Apr 12, 2012
The Philippines deployed a second vessel to tiny islands in the South China Sea on
Thursday in a bid to protect its sovereignty in an increasingly tense territorial
standoff with China.
Authorities said a coast guard boat joined the Philippines' biggest warship at
Scarborough Shoal, where two Chinese surveillance vessels were protecting a group
of Chinese fishermen from being arrested.
"It has arrived in the area. It is there to support our navy and to show our flag,"
foreign affairs department spokesman Raul Hernandez told reporters, referring to
the 56-metre-long (184-foot) search and rescue coast guard vessel.
"It is mandated to protect our seas."
However Hernandez also emphasised the Philippines was intent on ending the
standoff peacefully, and quickly.
"We are confident the two sides will find a diplomatic solution as they are committed
to finding one," he said.

9
"We want this to be resolved immediately. Our people are there, the Chinese
fishermen are there. It is hot and they could run out of food so we want this to be
resolved as soon as possible."
The dispute began on Sunday when Philippine authorities found eight Chinese
fishing boats at the shoal, a group of tiny islands and reefs 124 nautical miles west
of the country's main island of Luzon.
The Philippines accused the fishermen of being there illegally, asserting the area was
Philippine territory because it was within the country's 200-nautical-mile exclusive
economic zone, as recognised by international law.
However China claims all of the South China Sea as its own, even waters up to the
coasts of other countries, and Chinese authorities insisted the fishermen were
allowed to be at the shoal.
Competing claims to the South China Sea have long been regarded as one of Asia's
potential flashpoints for military conflict.
Aside from the Philippines and China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei also
have competing claims to the waters.
More than 70 Vietnamese sailors were killed in 1988 when China and Vietnam
battled for control of the Spratlys, an archipelago south of Scarborough Shoal.
The sea holds huge economic and political significance, as it is believed to sit atop
vast oil and gas resources, is home to vast fishing grounds and hosts shipping lanes
that carry a third of the globe's maritime trade.
In the latest flare-up in tensions, the Philippines deployed its navy flagship vessel to
Scarborough Shoal immediately after the Chinese fishermen were discovered there.
But the two Chinese surveillance vessels appeared on the scene on Tuesday and
blocked the Philippine warship from arresting the fishermen, who had reportedly
hauled in corals, live sharks and some endangered species.
"For us, this is illegal fishing, illegal poaching and that is why our navy is there to
protect our sovereignty and assert our rights," Hernandez said.

10
The Chinese embassy in Manila released a statement on Wednesday insisting the
waters belonged to China and ordering the Philippine warship to leave immediately.
In Beijing, foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin accused the Philippines of
"harassing" the Chinese fishermen and said a protest had been lodged.
"We urge the Philippine side... not to make new troubles and create conditions for
the friendly relations of the two countries," Liu said.
The Philippines and Vietnam complained last year of increasingly aggressive acts by
China in staking its claim to the South China Sea.
The Philippines accused Chinese vessels of firing warning shots at Filipino fishermen,
as well as harassing an oil exploration vessel and placing markers on islets within
Philippine territory.
However this week's standoff is the highest-profile in recent years.

11
China sends 3rd ship in standoff with
Philippines
MANILA, Philippines (AP) China deployed a third ship Thursday in an area of the
disputed South China Sea where a tense standoff with Philippine vessels has
dragged on, sparking alarm in Manila.
Chinese and Filipino diplomats have been scrambling to resolve the dangerous
impasse at the Scarborough Shoal off the northwestern Philippines that erupted
Tuesday. A Philippine warship attempted to arrest several Chinese fishermen
accused of illegal entry and poaching, but was prevented by the arrival of two
Chinese surveillance ships.
One of the Chinese ships blocked the entrance to a lagoon at the shoal, where at
least eight Chinese fishing vessels were anchored. The Chinese ships also ordered
the Philippine warship to leave Scarborough, claiming Chinese sovereignty over the
rich fishing ground.
But the warship has stayed put, arguing it is Philippine territory.
Philippine navy chief Vice Admiral Alexander Pama said the BRP Gregorio del Pilar
warship was withdrawn from Scarborough Thursday for refueling and was replaced
by a Philippine coast guard ship. The move was not a retreat or concession of any
kind to China, he said.
"We're not retreating from our own territory," Pama said.
Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said he will ask Chinese ambassador Ma Keqing
to explain the arrival of a third Chinese surveillance ship at Scarborough, which he
said lies well within his country's territorial waters and off the northwestern
Philippine province of Zambales. Despite the new concern, del Rosario said he would
continue talks with Ma to resolve the impasse, possibly this week.
"We're watching developments and at the same time we're pursuing the diplomatic
track," Del Rosario said. "We're moving forward but it's still a work in progress."

12
Del Rosario proposed an arrangement to end the impasse during talks with Ma, who
was expected to relay the Chinese government's reply soon, according to two
Philippine officials monitoring the negotiations.
Del Rosario declined to provide details of the proposal, but said it was a "win-win"
solution designed to rapidly end the standoff. The stranded Chinese fishermen were
not expected to be able to stay for long at the uninhabited shoal because they may
run out of food and other provisions.
Del Rosario said he wanted the problem resolved before he leaves Sunday for a
weeklong U.S. trip.
Aside from Scarborough, the South China Sea is home to a myriad of competing
territorial claims, most notably the Spratly Islands south of the shoal, an island chain
claimed by China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan. The barren
Spratly islands, reefs and coral outcrops are believed to be in rich in oil and gas and
the overlapping claims have long been feared as Asia's next flashpoint for armed
conflict.
The Chinese Embassy said the fishing boats had taken shelter from a storm in the
lagoon and accused Philippine troops of harassment. But Philippine authorities
claimed the fishermen illegally entered their territory then collected giant clams, live
sharks and other endangered marine species in violation of local laws.
The situation at the shoal remained relatively calm, although the Philippine military
spotted a suspected Chinese surveillance aircraft which briefly flew over the shoal
Wednesday, Pama said.
The United States said it was concerned by the increased tensions in the South
China Sea. "We urge all parties to exercise full restraint and seek a diplomatic
resolution," a State Department spokesperson said on customary condition of
anonymity.

13
Philippines 'withdraws warship' amid
China stand-off
12 April 2012 Last updated at 11:39 GMT
The Philippines' largest warship is in a stand-off with Chinese vessels in the South
China Sea
The Philippines says it has withdrawn its largest warship from a continuing stand-off
with Chinese boats in the disputed South China Sea.
Earlier on Thursday a Philippine coastguard vessel arrived in the area, known as the
Scarborough Shoal.
The Philippines also says China has sent a third ship to the scene.
The Philippine foreign minister said negotiations with China would continue. Both
claim the shoal off the Philippines' north-west coast.
The Philippines said its warship found eight Chinese fishing vessels at the shoal
when it was patrolling the area on Sunday.

14
It did not say why the warship had been pulled back. "That is an operational
undertaking I can't discuss with you," Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario
was quoted by AFP news agency as saying.
"We are pursuing the diplomatic track in terms of coming to a resolution on the
issue," Mr Del Rosario said.
Differing views
In a statement, the Philippines said that its navy boarded the Chinese fishing vessels
on Tuesday and found a large amount of illegally-caught fish and coral.
Two Chinese surveillance ships then apparently arrived in the area, placing
themselves between the warship and the fishing vessels, preventing the navy from
making arrests.
The Philippines summoned Chinese ambassador Ma Keqing on Wednesday to lodge
a protest over the incident. However, China maintained it had sovereign rights over
the area and asked that the Philippine warship leave the waters.
China's state-run newspaper China Daily claimed in an editorial that the Chinese
fishermen were "harassed" by the Philippine ship.
"China should take more measures to safeguard its maritime territory," the
newspaper stated.
"The latest moves by China's two neighbours are beyond tolerance," it added, also
referring to Vietnam. "They are blatant challenges to China's territorial integrity."
However, the Global Times newspaper added that China "has the patience to work
out solutions with the countries concerned through negotiation".
The stand-off comes as the Philippines prepares for joint naval exercises with the
United States from the 16 to 27 April near the disputed area.
Six countries claim competing sovereignty over areas in the South China Sea, which
is believed to contain huge deposits of oil and gas.

15
Along with China and the Philippines, they are Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and
Taiwan.
China's claim includes almost the entire South China Sea, well into what the UN
Convention on the Law of the Sea recognises as the 200-mile-from-shore Exclusive
Economic Zones of other claimants.
That has led to occasional flare-ups and to competition to occupy islands, reefs and
sandbars.

16
Sea dispute escalates as China and the
Philippines deploy more warships
By David Piper
Published April 12, 2012
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/04/12/sea-dispute-escalates-as-
china-and-philippines-deploys-more-warships/#ixzz1rvRCC4iz
The standoff in the South China Sea between the naval forces of the Philippines and
China is in danger of escalating, as the U.S. continues to watch anxiously.
China has now sent a third ship to support its claim to the area known as
Scarborough Shoal off the northwestern Philippines.
Philippine warships attempting to arrest the crews of a Chinese fishing fleet that had
entered the territory sparked the latest dispute between the two Asian countries.
They were stopped from doing so by the arrival of two Chinese surveillance ships,
which then ordered the Philippine warships to leave the area.
They refused arguing that its Philippine territory and have since sent a second
warship to the area.
"We're not retreating from our own territory," Alexander Pama, Chief Vice Admiral of
the Philippine navy said.
China also claims the rich fishing ground as its own despite it being within 200
nautical miles of the Philippines.
"The timing of the dispute suggests China is keen to send a message to the
Philippines and the U.S. ahead of their bilateral military exercise, and to assert its
authority in the disputed area," Maria Patrikainen, a global insight analyst at IHS told
Fox News.

17
The escalation in naval forces has caused consternation in capital across the Asian
region and further afield.
"We urge all parties to exercise full restraint and seek a diplomatic resolution," a
State Dept. spokesperson said.
On the surface this would seem to be a minor dispute between two countries but it
is in fact part of a much wider problem that may lead to U.S. military involvement.
On any map you buy in China of the country you will see a huge bulge down in the
south showing the territory it claims in the South China Sea.
It's an enormous area, which spreads near to the shores of the Philippines,
Indonesia, Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia.
It even spreads nearly as far as Singapore.
No other country in the region recognizes China's sovereignty, but that hasn't
stopped Beijing from marking its claim by any means it can.
This includes building concrete forts, occupied by troops on isolated coral reefs and
placing concrete markers in other areas, even underwater, to support their claim.
And China has been prepared to take military action in the past to take control of
some islands.
Back in 1974 China and Vietnam fought a battle over the Paracel Islands in the
South China Sea. Beijing's overpowering force including submarines won and they
have remained under the control of China since then.
The two countries also have an ongoing dispute over the Spratly Islands which last
year was in danger of escalating.
Vietnam accused China of cutting cables to their survey ships.
The U.S. military continues to watch China's actions in the South China Sea closely.
It continues to send surveillance planes and ships into the area even at the risk of
provoking China.

18
In 2009 a U.S. ship in the area had a confrontation with Chinese naval forces that
claimed the U.S. vessel had entered its waters.
And in 2001 a U.S. intelligence aircraft was intercepted over the South China Sea
and was involved in a midair collision that left one Chinese pilot dead and forced the
U.S. plane to land in China.
The reasons behind all this interest by competing powers in the South China Sea are
twofold.
Outside powers like the U.S. view the area as a key international waterway in which
a large part of world trade passes through. Last year the U.S. said maintaining
stability in the area is part of its "national interests."
U.S. aircraft carriers regularly pass through the South China Sea on their way to and
from the Middle East.
And the second reason is it is widely believed that under the South China Sea there
are huge quantities of oil and gas.
China and other nations who claim all, or part of, the area are hoping it will give
them energy security.
The difficulty at the moment is that China is seen in many Asian capitals as a bully
who wants to grab all of it and will only negotiate with each country separately.
President Obama announced last year that the U.S. would turn its strategic attention
more towards Asia to ensure stability there.
The first of the 2,500 U.S. marines that are to be based in Australia have already
started arriving.
It has long been feared that this could be the next area in Asia where there may be
armed conflict, and the disputes, if not handled properly threaten to lead to a
confrontation between Beijing and Washington.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/04/12/sea-dispute-escalates-as-
china-and-philippines-deploys-more-warships/#ixzz1rvRH13B1

19
Philippines and China in a Standoff at Sea
By FLOYD WHALEY April 11, 2012
MANILA Philippine and Chinese officials on Wednesday called for a diplomatic
solution to a naval standoff in the South China Sea, while insisting that they would
defend their territorial claims in the region.
If the Philippines is challenged, we are prepared to secure our sovereignty, Albert
F. del Rosario, the Philippine foreign secretary, said at a news conference as a
Philippine frigate and two Chinese ships positioned themselves near disputed islands
in the South China Sea. The Chinese Embassy in Manila issued a statement
reaffirming its claim to sovereignty over the islands and said that the Philippine Navy
was harassing its fishing vessels in the area.
The standoff comes at a time of increasing assertiveness by China in its claims to the
South China Sea waters around the Philippines. The dispute intensified after the
Philippines announced in February that it would invite foreign energy companies to
explore for oil and gas in the waters west of Palawan Province, and adjacent to the
Spratly Islands.
The Philippines, an ally of the United States, has become a particular target of
Chinas anger in the South China Sea disputes. Some analysts speculate that
Beijings harsher tone could be a tit-for-tat after Secretary of State Hillary Rodham
Clinton stood on the deck of an American warship last November in Manila Bay and
reaffirmed the military alliance between the Philippines and the United States.
Mrs. Clinton referred to an area of the South China Sea as the West Philippine Sea
a name used by the Philippines but not other nations a point that irritated the
Chinese.
In a demonstration of how exploration of oil and gas is a crucial aspect of the South
China Sea territorial disputes, American and Philippine naval exercises this month will
include one that involves retaking a hijacked oil rig, according to the Philippine
military. The current naval standoff began Sunday when Philippine surveillance
aircraft spotted eight Chinese fishing boats near Scarborough Shoal, an outcropping
of rocks 124 nautical miles west of Luzon Island in the Philippines. The shoal, which

20
is called Panatag in the Philippines and Huangyan in China, is claimed by both
countries.
The Philippine Navy sent the Gregorio del Pilar, a 378-foot patrol frigate that was
formerly an American Coast Guard cutter. The ship arrived early Tuesday and found
the boats anchored inside the horseshoe-shaped shoal, according to Vice Adm.
Alexander P. Pama.
At about 7:20 in the morning, the boarding team started to conduct a board, search
and seizure on the first Chinese fishing vessel and found large amounts of corals,
sizable quantities of giant clams and live sharks in its compartments, Admiral Pama
told reporters on Wednesday, adding that the other Chinese boats carried similar sea
resources that he said were illegal to harvest.
On Tuesday afternoon, two Chinese surveillance ships, identified by Philippine
officials as Zhonggou Haijian 75 and Zhonggou Haijian 84, took positions at the
mouth of the lagoon within the shoal, blocking the Philippine Navy vessels access to
the fishing boats inside.
One of the Chinese ships radioed the Philippine ship and said that the area was
Chinese territory and that the Philippine Navy should withdraw. The Philippine
captain responded that the shoal was his countrys territory. As of late Wednesday,
the vessels remained in position.
In its statement, the Chinese Embassy said the fishing boats were in the lagoon
seeking shelter from a storm when a Philippine Naval gunboat blocked the entrance
of the lagoon, and sent 12 Philippine soldiers, 6 of which armed, into the lagoon and
harassed the Chinese fishermen.
It went on to say that the embassy had contacted the Philippine government and
reiterated Chinas sovereignty over Huangyan Island, urged the Philippine side to
stop immediately their illegal activities and leave this area.
Scarborough Shoal, which sits amid rich fishing grounds, has been a point of
contention for more than a decade between China and the Philippines. Fishermen
from both countries have had previous confrontations with opposing naval vessels.

21
The Philippines claims the area as part of its 200-mile exclusive economic zone,
while China says that the area was mapped as Chinese territory as early as the 13th
century. The shoal lies north of the Spratly Islands, which are also claimed by China,
the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations.
In Beijing last week, a Foreign Ministry spokesman reiterated that China had
indisputable sovereignty over the Spratly Islands and their adjacent waters, and
resolutely opposed actions by other countries that damage Chinas sovereignty.
In an article published online this week, a Chinese Army officer accused the
Philippines of trying to use American power to intimidate China. The officer, Maj.
Gen. Luo Yuan, warned that China might reconsider its planned $50 billion
investments in the Philippines.
Last week, at a summit meeting of Southeast Asian leaders, China strongly opposed
an effort by the Philippines and Vietnam to draft a regional code of conduct to
resolve the territorial disagreements.
Bree Feng contributed research from Beijing.
This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:
Correction: April 13, 2012
An article on Thursday about a naval standoff between the Philippines and China in
the South China Sea described incorrectly the location of the Philippine island of
Luzon and Scarborough Shoal, which is claimed by both countries and is near where
Philippine surveillance aircraft spotted eight Chinese fishing boats on Sunday,
leading to the standoff. The shoal is 124 nautical miles west of Luzon, not east.

22
Philippines Dispatches 2nd Boat in
Naval Standoff with China
VOA News April 12, 2012
Photo: Reuters
Handout photo shows members of Philippine Army inspecting one of eight Chinese
fishing boats spotted in the Scarborough Shoal, a small group of rocky formations
whose sovereignty is contested by the Philippines and China, in the South China Sea,
about 124 nautical miles off the main island of Luzon, April 10, 2012.
The Philippines and China continued looking for a diplomatic solution to a naval
standoff on Thursday, even as Manila sent a second vessel to disputed islands in the
South China Sea.
Philippines foreign ministry spokesperson Raul Hernandez said a coast guard boat
has been sent to the Scarborough Shoal, located about 230 kilometers off the
northwestern Philippines.
It will join the Philippine Navy's largest vessel, the U.S.-built Gregorio del Pilar, which
since Tuesday has been in a standoff with two Chinese surveillance vessels that
blocked the arrest of a group of Chinese fishermen there.

23
Both sides say they prefer to solve the situation diplomatically, but warn that they
will take further steps to protect their sovereign rights to the group of islands, which
are known as Panatag in the Philippines, and as Huangyan Island in China.
Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario says his government continues
to hold talks with Ma Keqing, the Chinese ambassador in Manila.
China's Communist Party-affiliated Global Times newspaper said Thursday that
Beijing will continue to strive for peace and stability, but warned that it will not make
"unprincipled concessions to the recklessness of other countries." The editorial also
accused the U.S. of worsening the situation by encouraging the Philippines and
Vietnam to "take more risks." It did not elaborate.
The Philippines says it first noticed the Chinese fishing boats on Sunday. When
Philippine authorities confronted the fishermen on Tuesday, Manila says the two
Chinese surveillance ships positioned themselves between the warship and the
Chinese fishing boats, "preventing the arrest of the erring fishermen."
China says the fishing boats were simply taking shelter near the island due to
inclement weather. It said the two surveillance ships were taking action to safeguard
"Chinese national maritime interests and rights."

24
Philippines Warship, Chinese Vessels in
Standoff
Simone Orendain | Manila April 11, 2012 voa
Photo: Reuters
Philippine Navy flag officer-in-command vice admiral Alexander Pama presents to the
media an undated file photo of a Chinese surveillance ship which blocked a
Philippine Navy ship from arresting Chinese fishermen, April 11, 2012.A Philippine
naval ship, two Chinese vessels and at least eight fishing boats are in a standoff
near a shoal in the South China Sea that the Philippines says is well within its
territory. However, China says the fishermen are in its sovereign waters. Both sides
say they are trying to come to a diplomatic solution.
Illegal poaching discovered
The Philippine Navy says in recent days its patrol ship discovered illegal poaching by
Chinese fishermen in waters off of Scarborough shoal, 230 kilometers west
Zambales, Philippines. The country argues that is well within the 370 kilometer
exclusive economic zone designated by international law.

25
The head of the navy says officers went on board eight boats and found coral, large
clams and live sharks which are listed as endangered by the Philippines. He says
they were not able to arrest the fishermen because two Chinese government boats
arrived and positioned themselves between the fishing boats and the Philippine
patrol ship.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario summoned Chinas ambassador and says
he reiterated the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which states a
country has sovereignty over waters that are 370 kilometers from its coastline. He
says their first round of talks hit an impasse. I mentioned that, if the Philippines is
challenged, we are prepared to secure our sovereignty, he said.
China claims sovereignty over practically the entire South China Sea, based on a
centuries old map. Apart from the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan
also have partial or entire claims in the sea, which has abundant waters, potential
vast reserves of oil and natural gas and some of the most highly traveled sea lanes.
In the past year, the Philippines has complained of numerous run-ins with China on
the South China Sea. China maintains its historical claim.
China says law enforcement activities a violation
A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Liu Weimin, told a briefing
Wednesday that China has launched solemn representations with the Philippines
about the incident on the shoal locally named Huangyan.
He says the attempt by the Philippines to carry out the so-called law enforcement
activities in waters off of Huangyan Island is in violation of Chinese sovereignty as
well as the consensus between the two countries to maintain peace and stability of
the South China Sea.
In a statement, the Chinese ambassadors office urged the Philippines to stop what it
called illegal activities by the Navy and demanded its ship to leave the area.

26
Vessels stalled
The U.S.-built Gregorio Del Pilar, positioned at the mouth of the lagoon, continues to
pen-in the two Chinese government ships and the fishing boats. The navy says
nothing has been taken off the boats. Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard says it
will deploy a patrol boat to keep watch over the Naval ship, which is the Philippines
one and only warship.
Del Rosario says he is confident the situation will not escalate into armed conflict. He
pointed out the solid economic partnership the Philippines has with China and both
countries commitment to building friendly relations.
Three weeks ago the Philippines launched a two-year cultural exchange with China
that is intended to help solidify friendly relations between the two countries. Beijings
own launch was Wednesday.

27
War Games Begin Amid China-Philippines Tension
Simone Orendain | Manila April 12, 2012
Photo: AP
Protesters clash with riot police and U.S. Embassy guards as the former rush
towards the embassy gates to protest the joint U.S.-Philippines military exercises
dubbed "Balikatan 2011," which opened in Manila, Philippines, April 5, 2011.
U.S. troops are in the Philippines this month for the 28th annual exercises that will
include war games in the South China Sea. Close to 8,000 troops from both
countries are scheduled to participate. This year's drills are scheduled to take place
in three locations including Palawan, a nearly 600-kilometer-long island bordering
the Sea and come amid heightened tensions between the Philippines and China over
a disputed island chain.
Restricted areas
Army spokesman Major Emmanuel Garcia says all activities will be restricted to areas
clearly under Philippine sovereignty. These exercises will be done near shore of the
Palawan group of islands," Garcia explained. "There is no way that we will conduct
these kinds of military exercises on contested, or on waters that are not ours.
Clearly all exercises will be done on Philippine territory."China claims practically the
entire South China Sea as its territory, based on old maps. That has put it in conflict
with other countries bordering the sea, a rich fishing ground and potential source of

28
major oil and gas reserves. China also accuses the United States of emboldening
other claimants to the sea through actions such as the coming military exercise.
Numerous times in the past year, the Philippines has complained of Chinese vessels
interfering with activities within Manila's exclusive economic zone, which extends for
370 kilometers from its coastline under international law. China has repeatedly
insisted it was acting legally within its own waters.
Clear message
That means this years military exercises will not be perceived as routine, according
to Carl Thayer who specializes in security in Southeast Asia at the University of New
South Wales. He notes the drills are always choreographed to make sure they stay
out of disputed waters.But nonetheless they send a clear message of the Philippines
building up military capability, the U.S. willing to support the Philippines and [being]
a deterrent to China," Thayer noted. "That it can see a country, which in the past,
was kind of a pushover militarily. Its still a weakling, but its developing strength
and that Chinas behavior is pushing at least the Aquino administration more and
more into asking for greater American, more frequent American presence."
Last month, Philippine President Benigno Aquino said the country is open to U.S.
troops stopping here more often. The welcoming message comes at a time when the
U.S defense agenda is shifting toward Asia.
Beneficial partnership
Rommel Banlaoi says the U.S. also benefits from the partnership. Banlaoi is
executive director of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Terrorism and Violence
Research. The Philippines is a democracy, and having a democracy ally in Asia is
good for the United States in terms of democracy promotion in the world," he said.
"Secondly, by having a very good relationship with the Philippines, the United States
is also able to continue projecting its influence in Southeast Asia.
Apart from the high-profile military exercise, the United States is helping the
Philippines acquire affordable military hardware. In August, Manila augmented its
tiny naval fleet with a previously U.S.-owned Hamilton class cutter, the BRP Gregorio
Del Pilar, and it expects to take possession of another this year.

29
The Philippines has also received promises of support from U.S. Secretary of State
Hilary Clinton and ranking U.S. senators who visited early this year.Those
commitments could imply that the United States would indeed be certain to come to
the Philippine defense if they get into a dust-up with the Chinese over a territorial
dispute, said Patrick Cronin, senior director of the Asia-Pacific Security Program at
the Center for New American Security.And while a Philippine-US alliance does
indeed promise that the United States will come to the defense of the Philippines in
general, it doesnt necessarily imply that it follows in all of the gray areas and
disputed areas," he added. "Especially in the maritime boundaries.
Neutrality
Cronin reiterates what the U.S. has stated repeatedly, that it will remain neutral
when it comes to territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Furthermore, Thayer
says the Philippines will have to demonstrate that it can take responsibility for its
own defense. The United States is looking for allies and strategic partners to carry
more of the heavy lifting at a time of budget cuts. So the more Philippine ships
patrol the waters and the U.S. can assist in whats called maritime domain
awareness, the more the Philippines can assert its own sovereignty, first, he said.
A spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Manila says Chinas response to the joint
military exercises is that it hopes the countries concerned can do more for peace and
stability in the region.

30
Philippine President Urges ASEAN Unity on South
China Sea
Photo: Reuters
Presidents and prime ministers pose for a photograph during the opening ceremony
of the 20th ASEAN summit and the celebration of the 45th Anniversary of ASEAN at
the Peace Palace, in the Office of the Council of Ministers in Phnom Penh, April 3,
2012.Philippine President Benigno Aquino is calling on the 10-member Association of
Southeast Asian Nations - ASEAN - to forge a code of conduct on territorial claims in
the South China Sea, before negotiating with China to ease festering regional
tensions.
Aquino, speaking Tuesday in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh, told other ASEAN
heads of state that the grouping must "maintain centrality" in its dealings with
Beijing. ASEAN countries and non-member China hold conflicting claims to potential
mineral and energy deposits in the vast South China Sea, and several recent naval
confrontations have raised regional tensions.China has sought to negotiate with
individual ASEAN countries, and it was not clear from Tuesday's summit proceedings
how or if the two positions will be reconciled.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, whose country holds the rotating ASEAN chair,
opened the two-day summit Tuesday with a call for member-countries to work to
narrow the gap between the region's richest and poorest countries.

31
"Within the region, although the development gap among ASEAN members has been
noticeably narrow, it is still huge," he said. "This requires to double our efforts to
promote further growth and improve equitable distribution of the fruits of growth at
both the national and the regional among members countries."Cambodia maintains
close ties with Beijing, and analysts predicted ahead of the summit that Phnom
Penh, as a key benefactor of Chinese investment, would seek to minimize the
maritime disputes as summit host.The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei all
claim parts of the potentially resource-rich South China Sea, putting them at odds
with Beijing, which claims the entire 3.5 million-square-kilometer area. The
Philippines and Vietnam have both accused Chinese vessels of intruding into their
exclusive economic zones and disrupting oil exploration activities. Both Manila and
Hanoi have acquired new navy ships as they vow to defend their claims, while China
has acquired its first aircraft carrier.Separately Tuesday, several ASEAN members
raised concerns about North Korea's planned missile launch later this month.
Pyongyang says the rocket will place a weather satellite into orbit. But the United
States and other nations say the launch violates United Nations' sanctions prohibiting
Pyongyang from launching rockets capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
ASEAN includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma, the
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

32
China Plans Tourist Visits to Disputed
Islands
China says it will allow tourists to visit disputed islands in the South China Sea, a
move likely to further inflame tensions over the vast maritime region.
Beijing's plans for the Paracel islands are likely to irritate Vietnam, which also claims
the islands as part of its territory. Hanoi issued a statement last week denouncing a
sailing race around the Parcels staged by authorities in China's Hainan province.
In remarks first broadcast by Chinese state radio, officials say the tourist visits can
help China strengthen its claim over the islands, which are called Xisha in
Chinese.Beijing has become increasingly assertive about its claims over the entire
3.5 million-square-kilometer South China Sea, putting it at odds with Vietnam and
other regional rivals, including the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei, which also claim
parts of the waterway as their own. At this week's summit of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations, the leaders of the 10-member bloc pledged to quickly
complete work on a code of conduct to resolve conflicts with China in the potentially
resource-rich area.

China Is Bullying Philippines

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

China Is Bullying Philippines

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Polaris Burmese Library Collections

The Fight For Freedom in Burma

You might also like