PNoy: Arroyo admin made Spratlys issue more complicated

The territorial dispute involving the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) was made more complicated after the Arroyo administration included other countries in exploring the Philippines' 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone. The problem was made even worse because the Declaration of the Code of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea was not recognized, the President said during the 113th foundation day of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday. “But when the previous administration made a new agreement in 2005 — the Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU) that included other countries in exploring waters that are part of our territory — what used to be lump of a controversy turned into a dense mountain of trouble," he said. The JMSU included China and Vietnam in the joint exploration. It expired in 2008. The Philippine government is now pushing for a rules-based international system for a peaceful, fair and fruitful dialogue among the claimant-countries to reach an agreement over the disputed group of islands, Aquino said. Other countries apart from China and Vietnam, claiming sovereignty over parts or all of the Spratlys, are Brunei, Taiwan and Malaysia. PHL to chart own foreign policy The Philippines does not want any trouble “but that does not mean that we will allow bigger countries to bully us," Aquino said. “Kapag po hinayaan nating brasuhin lamang tayo, baka po ang mga susunod na Pilipino ay magsiksikan na lamang sa iisang isla. Kapag hinayaan nating itulak lang tayo ngayon, baka po bukas, makalawa, ang 7, 100 islands natin ay maging 2 digits na lamang," he said. In an interview with reporters after his speech, the President said the Philippines will chart its own foreign policy. [See: DFA: Military ties to strengthen PHL policy on Spratlys] “It so happens that in this particular case, there was a convergence between the Americans and ours with regards to the West Philippine Sea. There's a convergence of objectives by both sovereign countries. It does not sit well with me when somebody says that we closely align, meaning we abrogate our charting of our own foreign policies [or] that of another country. That is not permissible. Now we will chart our foreign policy based on the interest of the Philippines," he said. He said the problem with China and other claimant countries should be dealt with “as a bloc." On Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario’s visit to China, Aquino said the main agenda of is the West Philippine Sea issue and his upcoming visit in August. “That's the essence of diplomacy. Settle the differences through talking rather than any other means and that is actually enshrined in the constitution. So he will endeavor to have discussions on how to resolve this issue," he said. “We may just be able to resolve the issue. We cannot ignore each other if people’s lives are on the line," he said. — VS, GMA News