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Chinese exec frowns on PHL solons' planned visit to Spratlys


The People's Republic China on Tuesday expressed "concern" over the planned visit of a contingent from the Philippine House of Representatives to the disputed Spratly Islands. "The Chinese side expresses great concern over the reported act to be taken by these people involved," said Ethan Sun, spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines. "It goes against the spirit of the DOC (Declaration of Conduct of Parties to the South China Sea) and serves no purpose but to undermine peace and stability in the region and sabotage China-Philippines relationship," he added. He issued the statement after it was announced that a House contingent, which will be called the “Peace and Sovereignty Mission," will fly on Wednesday to the Kalayaan Island—a part of the island group being claimed by the Philippines. Akbayan party-list Representatives Walden Bello and Arlene Bag-ao, DIWA party-list Rep. Emmeline Aglipay, Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone and Ifugao Rep. Teodoro Baguilat Jr. will make up the contingent. Bello said the trip is aimed at supporting the Philippine government’s rightful claims on the area, as well as a way of gathering data for future legislations to build up the country’s defense on the islands. But earlier in the day, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. advised his colleagues to leave the resolution of Spratlys dispute to the proper authorities, particularly the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Sun, for his part, said the Chinese side will soon make representations to the Philippine side about their concern. The Spratlys, a group of islets in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) and believed to be rich in oil and gas deposits, are being claimed in whole or in part by China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and the Philippines. Earlier this month, the DFA announced that it would bring the Spratly Islands dispute before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, while maintaining that its claims on the area are based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea signed by both the Philippines and China in 1992. — with Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ, GMA News

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