US advises PHL: Settle Spratlys row with China peacefully

The United States advised the Philippines anew to “exercise restraint" and settle its row with China on the Spratly Islands issue peacefully at the negotiating table. US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr. on Tuesday said US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton mentioned this when she called Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Albert del Rosario last Sunday. "When Secretary Clinton spoke to DFA Secretary Del Rosario on Sunday, they spoke about the need for all claimants to resolve these issues at the negotiating table peacefully. We take no sides in this. We think all claimant states should sit down together, iron out their claims, and then work with China via ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), for a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea in the Spratly Islands," Thomas said in an interview on dzBB radio. China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan claim – in part or in whole – the Spratlys. Also, Thomas said the US wants all parties to settle the row as it has “important trade relationships" with both the Philippines and China, as well as other ASEAN nations. According to him, the huge international trade that passes through the South China Sea must be considered by all parties. "The most important thing for all countries is to realize that over $5 trillion in international commerce goes through the South China Sea. And that’s why we support freedom of navigation. But all this should be done peacefully, at the negotiating table. And that is so, so important," he said. Thomas said he has also discussed these matters with the Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines, Liu Jianchao, saying “we talk about these things." He also pointed out that while up to 70 percent of Filipinos have Chinese blood, more have American relatives as there are 4.5 million Filipinos living in the US now. “So we both share, China, Philippines, US, other countries, we have a shared heritage sometimes we don’t realize, so all these things should be resolved peacefully," he said. Earlier this month, a Department of Energy-contracted ship figured in a confrontation of sorts with two Chinese Navy patrol boats in the Reed Bank area west of Palawan. Chinese Navy patrol reportedly "harassed" a marine survey team that was commissioned by the Department of Energy (DOE). The incident prompted Manila to ask Beijing to “explain" the incident. DOE survey at Reed Bank ends Last Monday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said the vessels contracted by the DOE for the marine survey mission in the Reed Bank area ended their work without further incident. The PCG, which deployed three vessels to escort the DOE-contracted ships, said its three escort ships returned to Palawan for replenishment but will be ready for redeployment if needed. “The marine survey vessels went back to Ulugan, Palawan, last March 14 at 8:30 a.m., for the disembarkation of personnel and logistical fill-up," the Coast Guard said in an update on its website. It added its two search-and-rescue vessels used to escort the DOE vessels – BRP San Juan and BRP Nueva Vizcaya – are back in Puerto Princesa for logistical replenishment. Last March 7, the PCG ships started escorting the vessels and patrolling the area to guard against a repeat of an encounter between a Philippine exploration vessel and Chinese Navy patrol boats. Clinton-Del Rosario conversation Last Monday, the DFA said Del Rosario received a telephone call Sunday from Mrs. Clinton and the two “discussed issues of mutual interest between the Philippines and the United States." “Both foreign secretaries also underscored the need to ensure maritime security in the Asia-Pacific and agreed that a way forward is the conclusion of a binding regional code of conduct in the South China Sea," it said. The DFA also quoted Del Rosario as saying it is “in the best interest of the region to transform this potential flash-point into a Zone of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation through sustained consultation and dialogue." During the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat in Lombok, Indonesia last January 16, there was an agreement about a greater sense of urgency in finalizing the guidelines of the 2002 Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. Also, the two secretaries shared the view that the Philippine-US Strategic Dialogue, a platform for regular and sustained dialogue between the two countries, would raise their partnership to the next higher level. The first strategic dialogue was held last January 27 to 28 in Manila. Also, they discussed the regional architecture mechanisms in the Asia-Pacific region, notably the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS). “Secretary Del Rosario welcomed the participation of the US and the Russian Federation as new members of the EAS and expressed the hope that ASEAN will continue to play a central role in the EAS, which is a crucial building bloc in the evolving regional architecture," the DFA said. He added the expansion of the EAS is a positive development, and the Philippines looks forward to working with the US to ensure that the EAS is a strategic and Leaders-led forum. President Barack Obama II will join the 6th EAS in Indonesia in October this year, where the US will participate as a full member for the first time. — LBG/RSJ, GMA News