China reaffirms commitment to peaceful settlement of Spratlys dispute

MANILA, Philippines — China has reaffirmed its commitment to a peaceful resolution of the Spratly Islands diuspute and said it has never wanted confrontation among claimants. China’s envoy to the Philippines, Liu Jianchao, gave the assurance days after Beijing sent a patrol ship to the disputed waters, causing alarm among other claimant countries. “China is committed to settling international disputes through peaceful means, and preserving international and regional security. In such a spirit we call on the parties concerned to engage in cooperation rather than confrontation in the South China Sea," Liu said in his speech at the Chinese Embassy’s diplomatic reception Monday night. “China follows the path of peaceful development, and will work hard with other countries to build a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity," Liu said He further said that China considers “all countries, big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor equal members of the international community." The patrol ship incident came as China protested a new Philippine law that includes Kalayaan Group of Islands and Scarborough Shoal, which are referred to by China as Nansha Islands and Huangyan Island, respectively. Republic Act 9522 or the Philippine Archipelagic Baseline Law reaffirms the country’s claim over the 7,100 islands in its archipelago, including outlying territories in the disputed Spratlys in the South China Sea. The law states that Kalayaan Group of Islands and Scarborough Shoal in the Spratlys are “regime of islands" under the “Republic of the Philippines." Following the signing of the Philippine law last week, Beijing sent one of its modern vessels in the Spratlys, prompting complaints that China engaged in a provocative display of might to thwart any attempt by any state to lay claim to the disputed territories in the South China Sea. Liu explained, however, that it only sent a “fishing patrol vessel" and “not a warship" for the purpose of fishery and navigation protection. While China has filed diplomatic protests against the Philippines’ baseline law, Liu said his government “sees the China-Philippine relationship from a long term and strategic perspective." “Our relationship is strong and we want to make it stronger. And this is my mission as well," he said. As both countries celebrate its 35-year bilateral ties next year, Liu said China is “willing to deepen cooperation with the Philippines in the areas that meet the need of the Philippine people." He said the Chinese government has lined up investments in water projects, power supply, irrigation facilities, farming technology, transportation, communication, and education. The Spratlys — a cluster of islands, shoals, islets, atolls, cays and reefs — along the South China Sea, is claimed in part or in whole by China , the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan. Beijing claims that it has “indisputable sovereignty over these islands and their adjacent waters" and that a claim by the Philippines on these territories are “invalid and illegal." Vietnam also claims almost all of the islands, and it has figured in naval confrontations with China in the past. - GMANews.TV