The Philippines has recently been among the most vocal in
criticizing China's development of isolated outcroppings in the waters into
large facilities capable of hosting bases and even airstrips
SUBJECT OF PROTESTS. A photo obtained by Rappler shows the
status of reclamation activities in Keenan (Chigua) Reef in the West Philippine
Sea (South China Sea) as of December 12, 2014.
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines on Saturday,
March 28, shot back at Beijing's criticism of its activities in the South China
Sea, saying they were "in no way comparable to China's massive reclamation
activities" in the waters.
It also said accusations that Manila was being
"hypocritical" would not distract people from Beijing's own actions
which were raising regional tensions.
The statement by foreign affairs department
spokesman Charles Jose was the latest volley in an increasingly tense war of
words over the sea, parts of which are claimed by both countries as well as
Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.
"The Philippines' possible undertaking of
necessary maintenance and repairs on its existing facilities in the West
Philippine Sea...is in no way comparable to China's massive reclamation
activities which not only violate international law...but also unnecessarily
raise tensions," the statement said.
"West Philippine Sea" is the term Manila
uses for the South China Sea where Filipino troops and civilians occupy some
islands.
The Philippines has recently been among the most
vocal in criticizing China's development of isolated outcroppings in the waters
into large facilities capable of hosting bases and even airstrips.
Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said the
Philippines would resume its own construction of facilities in the sea,
prompting Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying to denounce his
remarks on Friday, March 27.
"This does not only violate China's territorial sovereignty
but also reveals (the Philippines') hypocritical nature," she said.
In response, the Philippines said: "China's
recent statement...should not distract us from the real issues in the South
China Sea which are China's illegitimate 'nine-dash line' claim and China's
unilateral and aggressive behavior in asserting that claim as exemplified by
its massive and unrestrained 'reclamation."
Reacting to the controversy, Philippine President
Benigno Aquino III affirmed his support for Del Rosario, Presidential Deputy
Spokesperson Abigail Valte said on Saturday.
Valte also said that any repairs of Philippine
facilities would not violate a Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the
South China Sea sealed between China and Southeast Asian countries in 2002.
The non-binding accord is intended to avoid raising
tensions in the disputed territory.
Valte also stressed that the Philippines had made
its position clear in a challenge it had filed before a United Nations tribunal
in March 2014 to declare as illegal what Manila said was China's claim to 70%
of the sea.
The Philippines has also filed numerous diplomatic
protests against what it calls China efforts to assert its claims to the
territory shown in a "nine-dash line" in several Chinese maps.
The UN tribunal is due to rule early next year on
Manila's challenge to Beijing's claims.
Source +Rappler
Tagged +Rappler
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