Defense chief: RP not intimidated by China's patrol ship
JOHANNA CAMILLE SISANTE, GMANews.TV
03/16/2009 | 09:49 PM
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine government is not intimidated by China’s deployment of a patrol ship to the South China Sea amid disputes over parts of the Spratly Islands, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said Monday.
In a chance interview during the Philippine Military Academy Commencement Exercise in Baguio City, Teodoro expressed confidence that the Philippines would be able to weather whatever threat the Asian giant may pose following the recent signing of the Philippines’ Baselines Law.
“I don’t really think it’s a big threat because we have the force of law on our side," Teodoro said.
“The greatest weapon is we are in accordance with the international law and the international community will be watching what happens in that area," he added.
Teodoro said the international community would not likely approve of the “signal" China is giving by sending a ship to patrol the waters. “I think what’s more intimidating is the claim that the whole South China Sea is a property of any one state or whatever," he said.
The Defense chief said it is up to the Department of Foreign Affairs, with the guidance of the national security adviser, to deal with the matter through diplomatic processes.
China sent a patrol ship to the Spratly Islands over the weekend, a week after a US Navy vessel and Chinese ships had a confrontation in the South China Sea, and a few days after China protested the signing of the Philippines' Baselines Law last March 10.
The Baselines Law, or Republic Act 9522, places the Kalayaan Group of Islands and the Scarborough Shoal—which are part of the Spratly Islands—as a “regime of islands under the Republic of the Philippines."
The signing of the law prompted China’s new ambassador to Manila, Liu Jianchiao, to tell Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo that Huangyan Island and Nansha Islands—or the KIG and the Scarborough Shoal—have “always been parts of [China’s] territory."
“China has indisputable sovereignty over these islands and their adjacent waters," Liu was quoted as saying in a statement on the Chinese Embassy website.
The Spratlys Islands, a cluster of islands, shoals, islets, cays and reefs along the South China Sea, is said to be harboring rich minerals and oil reserves. It is claimed in part or in whole by China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Taiwan. Vietnam also protested against RA 9522 following its signing. - GMANews.TV
In a chance interview during the Philippine Military Academy Commencement Exercise in Baguio City, Teodoro expressed confidence that the Philippines would be able to weather whatever threat the Asian giant may pose following the recent signing of the Philippines’ Baselines Law.
“I don’t really think it’s a big threat because we have the force of law on our side," Teodoro said.
“The greatest weapon is we are in accordance with the international law and the international community will be watching what happens in that area," he added.
Teodoro said the international community would not likely approve of the “signal" China is giving by sending a ship to patrol the waters. “I think what’s more intimidating is the claim that the whole South China Sea is a property of any one state or whatever," he said.
The Defense chief said it is up to the Department of Foreign Affairs, with the guidance of the national security adviser, to deal with the matter through diplomatic processes.
China sent a patrol ship to the Spratly Islands over the weekend, a week after a US Navy vessel and Chinese ships had a confrontation in the South China Sea, and a few days after China protested the signing of the Philippines' Baselines Law last March 10.
The Baselines Law, or Republic Act 9522, places the Kalayaan Group of Islands and the Scarborough Shoal—which are part of the Spratly Islands—as a “regime of islands under the Republic of the Philippines."
The signing of the law prompted China’s new ambassador to Manila, Liu Jianchiao, to tell Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo that Huangyan Island and Nansha Islands—or the KIG and the Scarborough Shoal—have “always been parts of [China’s] territory."
“China has indisputable sovereignty over these islands and their adjacent waters," Liu was quoted as saying in a statement on the Chinese Embassy website.
The Spratlys Islands, a cluster of islands, shoals, islets, cays and reefs along the South China Sea, is said to be harboring rich minerals and oil reserves. It is claimed in part or in whole by China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Taiwan. Vietnam also protested against RA 9522 following its signing. - GMANews.TV
