China lauds PH pullout from shoal | Philippine Daily Inquirer

China lauds PH pullout from shoal
Jerry E. Esplanada, Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines — China welcomed on Sunday the Philippine government’s decision to order home its two remaining vessels engaged in a standoff with Chinese ships over the Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

In a text message to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Zhang Hua, the spokesman of the Chinese Embassy in Makati City, said “we have noticed the withdrawal of government vessels by the Philippine side.”

“We hope this action will help ease the tensions (between Manila and Beijing over the shoal, which China calls Huangyan Island),” he also said.

Zhang, also deputy chief of the embassy’s political section, noted “the Chinese side has been urging the Philippine side to take measures to de-escalate the situation.”

However, he did not say when Beijing would make good its supposed commitment to withdraw its vessels from the disputed rock formation, located 220 kilometers west of Zambales province and well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

As of Thursday, China had seven government ships outside the shoal lagoon and more than 20 fishing boats inside the lagoon, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Other than the two vessels, the Philippines had no other ships at the shoal, which Manila refers to as Bajo de Masinloc and Panatag Shoal.

Citing bad weather, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario announced on Saturday that President Benigno Aquino III had ordered home the two Philippine ships – a Coast Guard search-and-rescue vessel and a Bureau and Fisheries and Aquatic Resources survey ship.

The DFA head also said, “when the weather improves, a reevaluation will be made.”

The day before, Del Rosario told reporters that China had agreed to withdraw all its vessels from the shoal area, adding “we are waiting for them to comply with their commitment.”

Two weeks ago, Liu Weimin, the spokesperson of the Chinese foreign ministry, reiterated the shoal “is China’s inherent territory, which has never been disputed.”

“China’s position on defending its territorial integrity is firm and steadfast. The Chinese side urges the Philippine side to concretely respect China’s territorial sovereignty and withdraw Philippine ships from the Huangyan Island waters as soon as possible,” said Liu.

At the same time, she claimed China “remains committed to addressing the current situation through bilateral diplomatic consultations and hopes that the Philippine side will work toward the same direction with the Chinese side. At present, the two sides are keeping normal communication and dialogue.”

Last week, Del Rosario told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that despite an easing of tensions between the Philippines and China over Scarborough Shoal, Manila would still push through with its plan to bring the conflict to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (Itlos), based in Hamburg, Germany.

In a text message, Del Rosario stressed the need for international mediation to resolve once and for all the two Asian neighbors’ dispute.

“Yes, pursuing a dispute settlement mechanism under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) to validate our claims in the West Philippine Sea constitutes our legal approach towards a durable and peaceful resolution,” he said.

Del Rosario noted “it is, as well, an option that is explicitly encouraged by many of our international partners to settle our disputes in accordance with a rules-based regime to include Unclos.”

The DFA head strongly believes that ITLOS, established on Dec. 10, 1982 by UNCLOS, is the appropriate third-party adjudication body under international law with respect to the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile EEZ.

The body, he asserted, would provide an impartial venue for ascertaining who between the Philippines and China, could exercise sovereign rights over the waters around the shoal.

Sometime in late April, China rejected the Philippines’ proposal to bring the issue to ITLOS. Zhang had told this paper that Beijing’s decision was final.

Del Rosario had disclosed that the DFA has been “making the necessary preparations” for the presentation of the dispute to ITLOS.

He pointed out “the whole world knows that China has myriad more ships and aircraft than the Philippines. At day’s end, however, we hope to demonstrate that international law would be the great equalizer.”

He has repeatedly said the Philippines is “committed to efforts aimed at defusing the tensions” at Scarborough Shoal.

Last week, the Philippines and China repositioned some ships stationed at the shoal, easing tensions that have been building up since early April.

Following bilateral consultations, Beijing moved out two government ships from a lagoon at the center of the shoal while a Philippine fisheries bureau vessel did the same.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda called the coordinated pullback a “step in the right direction.”

“This is an easing of tensions and we appreciate the gesture of both parties to de-escalate tension in Panatag shoal,” Laciera said.

Philippine and Chinese ships started facing off around Scarborough Shoal on April 8, when Chinese ships blocked Philippine vessels sent to arrest Chinese fishermen poaching in the lagoon.

The two countries are continuing consultations to address the maritime dispute, according to the DFA.