Malacañang mum on China 'snub' of diplomatic protest

Malacañang kept mum on Saturday over a reported snub by China of a complaint it filed over a “harassment" incident in the disputed Spratly Islands last Wednesday. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte would not comment on reports that China brushed aside the complaint, but said the Palace will wait for the Department of Foreign Affairs’ response on the matter. “Mas mabuti hintayin natin ang response from the Secretary of Foreign Affairs kasi yun din ang inaantay natin (It is better to wait for the response of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs. That is what we are waiting for)," she said on government-run dzRB radio. Last Friday, the Philippine government lodged a diplomatic protest, seeking an explanation on why Chinese Navy patrol boats harassed a Philippine-sanctioned oil exploration vessel at the Reed Bank, a disputed area west of Palawan province. But Ethan Sun Yi, deputy chief of the political section and spokesman of the Chinese Embassy in Manila, reaffirmed China’s sovereignty over the Spratly Islands. Ownership of the Spratlys, a reputedly oil-rich chain of islands in the South China Sea, is being disputed by Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. Last Wednesday, the Philippine military sent an aircraft to the Reed Bank area after receiving a report on the alleged harassment by Chinese patrol boats. PCG sends sea patrol On Saturday, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said it dispatched two search-and-rescue vessels with Special Operations Group divers and a medical team; and had a monitoring-control-surveillance (MCS) vessel patrol the area. "In support of the government’s energy exploration project, Coast Guard Vessels BRP San Juan (SARV 001), BRP Nueva Viscaya (SARV 3502), and joint PCG-BFAR manned MCS 3002 have been specifically tasked to conduct maritime patrols and assist said DOE-contracted survey vessels, to include those currently undertaking marine seismic survey within the area of Reed Bank, west of Palawan which earlier reported being harassed by Chinese vessels," it said in a bulletin on its website. It pointed out the Reed Bank is only some 80 nautical miles west of mainland Palawan. The PCG also said it has stepped up its campaign against poachers around the country in coordination, or jointly with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). Last Friday, acting Foreign Affairs secretary Albert del Rosario said the Department of Energy research vessel remains within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. — LBG, GMA News