china is bullying philippines

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CAUSE OF INSTABILITY IN REGION-CHINA IS BULLYING PHILIPPINES

By ( ) , 12 2012


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(Luzon) (Scarborough Shoal)

(ScarboroughShoal)

(Albert del Rosario)

(Gregorio del Pilar)

Philippines, China recall protest to easestandoff(AP)13 April 2012

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines and China agreed Friday to set aside their

diplomatic protests in order to ease tensions over a naval standoff in the disputed

South China Sea, the top Filipino diplomat said.

China also pulled back one of three surveillance ships at the Scarborough Shoal off

the northwestern Philippines, Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario told

reporters. But the impasse remained with two other Chinese ships facing off aPhilippine coast guard vessel.


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Del Rosario said that Chinas ambassador presented her own proposal to end the

standoff, which began early this week when Chinese ships prevented the Philippine

navy from detaining Chinese fishermen who were allegedly caught poaching.

Both sides claim the uninhabited, horseshoe-shaped shoal, which lies about 200

kilometers (120 miles) from Zambales province, the nearest Philippine coast.

The 4-day-old standoff has reignited concern for potential conflict in the South China

Sea, one of the worlds busiest lanes that is also home to a myriad of competing

territorial claims, most notably the Spratly Islands south of the shoal.

The disputes have settled into an uneasy standoff since the last major clash, which

involved China and Vietnam and killed more than 70 Vietnamese sailors in 1988.

The barren islands, reefs and coral outcrops are claimed by China, the Philippines,

Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan. They are rich fishing grounds and are

believed to contain oil and gas reserves.

I think that we were able to succeed in moving forward by a few steps but there

are other matters that remain outstanding, Del Rosario said, adding that the talks in

Manila would continue.

We both want this resolved as soon as possible. Weve agreed that both sides will

not do anything to escalate the situation there any further, he said.

The U.S. has angered Beijing by declaring it is in U.S. national interest to ensure the

area remained stable.

On Friday, Vietnamese monk Thich Giac Nghia said five Buddhist monks had set sail

a day earlier for the Spratlys, where they plan to practice and teach their religion for

six months to a year. Nghia earlier said the monks were traveling voluntarily to help

defend their countrys territorial claim.

In March, Vietnam protested after Chinese forces allegedly intercepted two fishing

boats near the disputed Paracel Islands, seizing 21 fishermen.


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Philippines and China clash as tensionsrise over oil-rich seasJoel Guinto, Danie l Ten Kate

April 12, 2012

Disputed waters ... Philippine navy troops inspect a Chinese fishing vessel after it wasintercepted in the South China Sea. Photo: DFAMANILA: The Philippines' biggest warship, obtained from the United States last year,

was locked in a standoff with Chinese vessels over fishing in the South China Sea

yesterday, increasing tensions in disputed waters rich in oil and gas deposits.

Philippine personnel attempting to arrest Chinese fishermen aboard eight boats on

the Scarborough Shoal were blocked by two marine surveillance ships, the foreign

affairs department in Manila said in a statement.

The Philippines summoned the Chinese envoy in Manila to seek a ''diplomatic

solution''.

The latest incident comes as the Philippines tries to build support among the south-

east Asian nations for a common position on territorial disputes in the South China

Sea.


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China claims most of the waters as its own and used patrol boats last year to disrupt

hydrocarbon survey activities, chasing away a ship working for Forum Energy off the

Philippines and slicing cables of a vessel doing work for Vietnam.

''It's the law of physics: two competing parties cannot occupy the same space at the

same time,'' said Carlyle Thayer, a politics professor at the ADF academy in

Canberra.

''The danger now that this has been publicised is growing nationalism in the

Philippines that leads to greater resolve for the Philippines to take action.''

The Chinese fishermen were first spotted in the area on April 8, according to the

Philippine statement, which referred to the waters as ''an integral part of Philippine

territory''.

The Philippine foreign secretary, Albert del Rosario, asked China's ambassador in

Manila, Ma Keqing, to discuss the issue today, according to the statement.

The US has a mutual defence treaty with the Philippines and has boosted military

relations with Vietnam in recent years.

Both of the countries reject China's map of the South China Sea as a basis for joint

development of oil and gas resources, and have pushed ahead with exploration

work, leading to more confrontations as China expands the use of its marine

surveillance vessels.

The South China Sea contains oil reserves that may total as much as 213 billion

barrels, according to Chinese studies cited in 2008 by the US Energy Information

Agency.


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Philippines shuffles ships in maritimestandoff with ChinaBy the CNN Wire Staff

April 12, 2012 -- Updated 1009 GMT (1809 HKT)

Philippine Navy Vice Admiral Alexander Pama speaks during a press conference inManila on WednesdayHong Kong (CNN) -- The Philippines said Thursday that it had pulled its largest navalvessel away from a remote lagoon in the South China Sea where it was engaged in

an uneasy standoff with two Chinese maritime surveillance ships.

But the tense situation is not yet resolved, as a Philippine coast guard boat remains

at the scene, and a third Chinese ship has arrived, said Raul Hernandez, a

spokesman for the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs.

The Philippine naval vessel -- the BRP Gregorio del Pilar, a 378-foot cutter -- has

moved away from the lagoon for "reprovisioning" and a decision has not yet been

announced on whether it will return, Hernandez said.


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He said negotiations were continuing with the Chinese in the hope of finding a

"diplomatic solution" to the impasse at Scarborough Shoal, which both countries

claim is "an integral part" of their territory. Scarborough Shoal is about 200

kilometers west of the Philippine mainland.

"For now, the ball is on the side of the Chinese," Hernandez said.

The Philippines sent the Gregorio del Pilar to the area of Scarborough Shoal on

Sunday after surveillance aircraft spotted eight Chinese fishing boats anchored inside

the lagoon.

A boarding team from the Gregorio del Pilar went to inspect the Chinese fishing

boats Tuesday morning and found "large amounts of illegally collected corals, giant

clams and live sharks" inside one of the boats, according to the Philippine

government.

Later Tuesday, the Gregorio del Pilar reported that the two Chinese surveillance

ships had arrived and taken up a position at the mouth of the lagoon, blocking the

way to the fishing boats and "preventing the arrest" of the fishermen.

The Philippines said Thursday that it had sent the coast guard vessel to support the

Gregorio del Pilar. It also reported the arrival of the third Chinese vessel, which it

said was from China's Bureau of Fisheries.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila has complained to the Philippine authorities about

"the harassment of Chinese fishermen," China's official news agency, Xinhua,

reported Wednesday.

China has "urged the Philippine side to stop immediately their illegal activities and

leave the area," Xinhua reported, saying that the fishermen were taking shelter in

the lagoon "due to harsh weather conditions."

The embassy is "engaged in discussions with the Philippine Department of Foreign

Affairs to seek a solution" and maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea,

Xinhua said.

The South China Sea -- a 1.3 million square mile patch of the Pacific Oceanbracketed by China and several Southeast Asian nations -- is dotted with hundreds


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of largely uninhabited islands and coral atolls that are home to some of the world's

most diverse marine life. Also under its waves lie potentially huge reserves of natural

gas and oil.

That prospect has peppered the sea with competing claims from China, Vietnam, the

Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. It has also resulted in frequent small-scale

clashes. Last year, a spate of incidents took place between Chinese and Vietnamese

vessels.

Philippines deploys second ship inChina standoffBy Jason Gutierrez | AFP Thu, Apr 12, 2012

The Philippines deployed a second vessel to tiny islands in the South China Sea on

Thursday in a bid to protect its sovereignty in an increasingly tense territorial

standoff with China.

Authorities said a coast guard boat joined the Philippines' biggest warship at

Scarborough Shoal, where two Chinese surveillance vessels were protecting a group

of Chinese fishermen from being arrested.

"It has arrived in the area. It is there to support our navy and to show our flag,"

foreign affairs department spokesman Raul Hernandez told reporters, referring to

the 56-metre-long (184-foot) search and rescue coast guard vessel.

"It is mandated to protect our seas."

However Hernandez also emphasised the Philippines was intent on ending the

standoff peacefully, and quickly.

"We are confident the two sides will find a diplomatic solution as they are committed

to finding one," he said.


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"We want this to be resolved immediately. Our people are there, the Chinese

fishermen are there. It is hot and they could run out of food so we want this to be

resolved as soon as possible."

The dispute began on Sunday when Philippine authorities found eight Chinese

fishing boats at the shoal, a group of tiny islands and reefs 124 nautical miles west

of the country's main island of Luzon.

The Philippines accused the fishermen of being there illegally, asserting the area was

Philippine territory because it was within the country's 200-nautical-mile exclusive

economic zone, as recognised by international law.

However China claims all of the South China Sea as its own, even waters up to the

coasts of other countries, and Chinese authorities insisted the fishermen were

allowed to be at the shoal.

Competing claims to the South China Sea have long been regarded as one of Asia's

potential flashpoints for military conflict.

Aside from the Philippines and China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei also

have competing claims to the waters.

More than 70 Vietnamese sailors were killed in 1988 when China and Vietnam

battled for control of the Spratlys, an archipelago south of Scarborough Shoal.

The sea holds huge economic and political significance, as it is believed to sit atop

vast oil and gas resources, is home to vast fishing grounds and hosts shipping lanes

that carry a third of the globe's maritime trade.

In the latest flare-up in tensions, the Philippines deployed its navy flagship vessel to

Scarborough Shoal immediately after the Chinese fishermen were discovered there.

But the two Chinese surveillance vessels appeared on the scene on Tuesday and

blocked the Philippine warship from arresting the fishermen, who had reportedly

hauled in corals, live sharks and some endangered species.

"For us, this is illegal fishing, illegal poaching and that is why our navy is there to

protect our sovereignty and assert our rights," Hernandez said.


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The Chinese embassy in Manila released a statement on Wednesday insisting the

waters belonged to China and ordering the Philippine warship to leave immediately.

In Beijing, foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin accused the Philippines of

"harassing" the Chinese fishermen and said a protest had been lodged.

"We urge the Philippine side... not to make new troubles and create conditions for

the friendly relations of the two countries," Liu said.

The Philippines and Vietnam complained last year of increasingly aggressive acts by

China in staking its claim to the South China Sea.

The Philippines accused Chinese vessels of firing warning shots at Filipino fishermen,

as well as harassing an oil exploration vessel and placing markers on islets within

Philippine territory.

However this week's standoff is the highest-profile in recent years.


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China sends 3rd ship in standoff withPhilippinesMANILA, Philippines (AP) China deployed a third ship Thursday in an area of the

disputed South China Sea where a tense standoff with Philippine vessels has

dragged on, sparking alarm in Manila.

Chinese and Filipino diplomats have been scrambling to resolve the dangerous

impasse at the Scarborough Shoal off the northwestern Philippines that erupted

Tuesday. A Philippine warship attempted to arrest several Chinese fishermenaccused of illegal entry and poaching, but was prevented by the arrival of two

Chinese surveillance ships.

One of the Chinese ships blocked the entrance to a lagoon at the shoal, where at

least eight Chinese fishing vessels were anchored. The Chinese ships also ordered

the Philippine warship to leave Scarborough, claiming Chinese sovereignty over the

rich fishing ground.

But the warship has stayed put, arguing it is Philippine territory.

Philippine navy chief Vice Admiral Alexander Pama said the BRP Gregorio del Pilar

warship was withdrawn from Scarborough Thursday for refueling and was replaced

by a Philippine coast guard ship. The move was not a retreat or concession of any

kind to China, he said.

"We're not retreating from our own territory," Pama said.

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said he will ask Chinese ambassador Ma Keqing

to explain the arrival of a third Chinese surveillance ship at Scarborough, which he

said lies well within his country's territorial waters and off the northwestern

Philippine province of Zambales. Despite the new concern, del Rosario said he would

continue talks with Ma to resolve the impasse, possibly this week.

"We're watching developments and at the same time we're pursuing the diplomatic

track," Del Rosario said. "We're moving forward but it's still a work in progress."


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Del Rosario proposed an arrangement to end the impasse during talks with Ma, who

was expected to relay the Chinese government's reply soon, according to two

Philippine officials monitoring the negotiations.

Del Rosario declined to provide details of the proposal, but said it was a "win-win"

solution designed to rapidly end the standoff. The stranded Chinese fishermen were

not expected to be able to stay for long at the uninhabited shoal because they may

run out of food and other provisions.

Del Rosario said he wanted the problem resolved before he leaves Sunday for a

weeklong U.S. trip.

Aside from Scarborough, the South China Sea is home to a myriad of competing

territorial claims, most notably the Spratly Islands south of the shoal, an island chain

claimed by China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan. The barren

Spratly islands, reefs and coral outcrops are believed to be in rich in oil and gas and

the overlapping claims have long been feared as Asia's next flashpoint for armed

conflict.

The Chinese Embassy said the fishing boats had taken shelter from a storm in the

lagoon and accused Philippine troops of harassment. But Philippine authorities

claimed the fishermen illegally entered their territory then collected giant clams, live

sharks and other endangered marine species in violation of local laws.

The situation at the shoal remained relatively calm, although the Philippine military

spotted a suspected Chinese surveillance aircraft which briefly flew over the shoal

Wednesday, Pama said.

The United States said it was concerned by the increased tensions in the South

China Sea. "We urge all parties to exercise full restraint and seek a diplomatic

resolution," a State Department spokesperson said on customary condition of

anonymity.


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Philippines 'withdraws warship' amidChina stand-off12 April 2012 Last updated at 11:39 GMT

The Philippines' largest warship is in a stand-off with Chinese vessels in the South

China Sea

The Philippines says it has withdrawn its largest warship from a continuing stand-off

with Chinese boats in the disputed South China Sea.

Earlier on Thursday a Philippine coastguard vessel arrived in the area, known as the

Scarborough Shoal.

The Philippines also says China has sent a third ship to the scene.

The Philippine foreign minister said negotiations with China would continue. Both

claim the shoal off the Philippines' north-west coast.

The Philippines said its warship found eight Chinese fishing vessels at the shoal

when it was patrolling the area on Sunday.


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It did not say why the warship had been pulled back. "That is an operational

undertaking I can't discuss with you," Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario

was quoted by AFP news agency as saying.

"We are pursuing the diplomatic track in terms of coming to a resolution on the

issue," Mr Del Rosario said.

Differing views

In a statement, the Philippines said that its navy boarded the Chinese fishing vessels

on Tuesday and found a large amount of illegally-caught fish and coral.

Two Chinese surveillance ships then apparently arrived in the area, placing

themselves between the warship and the fishing vessels, preventing the navy from

making arrests.

The Philippines summoned Chinese ambassador Ma Keqing on Wednesday to lodge

a protest over the incident. However, China maintained it had sovereign rights over

the area and asked that the Philippine warship leave the waters.

China's state-run newspaper China Daily claimed in an editorial that the Chinesefishermen were "harassed" by the Philippine ship.

"China should take more measures to safeguard its maritime territory," the

newspaper stated.

"The latest moves by China's two neighbours are beyond tolerance," it added, also

referring to Vietnam. "They are blatant challenges to China's territorial integrity."

However, the Global Times newspaper added that China "has the patience to work

out solutions with the countries concerned through negotiation".

The stand-off comes as the Philippines prepares for joint naval exercises with the

United States from the 16 to 27 April near the disputed area.

Six countries claim competing sovereignty over areas in the South China Sea, which

is believed to contain huge deposits of oil and gas.
http://dfa.gov.ph/main/index.php/newsroom/dfa-releases/5164-philippines-asserts-sovereignty-over-panatag-scarborough-shoalhttp://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2012-04/12/content_15028265.htmhttp://www.globaltimes.cn/NEWS/tabid/99/ID/704482/Peaceful-ideals-under-fire-in-SChina-Sea.aspxhttp://www.globaltimes.cn/NEWS/tabid/99/ID/704482/Peaceful-ideals-under-fire-in-SChina-Sea.aspxhttp://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2012-04/12/content_15028265.htmhttp://dfa.gov.ph/main/index.php/newsroom/dfa-releases/5164-philippines-asserts-sovereignty-over-panatag-scarborough-shoal


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Along with China and the Philippines, they are Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and

Taiwan.

China's claim includes almost the entire South China Sea, well into what the UN

Convention on the Law of the Sea recognises as the 200-mile-from-shore Exclusive

Economic Zones of other claimants.

That has led to occasional flare-ups and to competition to occupy islands, reefs and

sandbars.


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Sea dispute escalates as China and thePhilippines deploy more warshipsBy David Piper

Published April 12, 2012

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/04/12/sea-dispute-escalates-as-

china-and-philippines-deploys-more-warships/#ixzz1rvRCC4iz

The standoff in the South China Sea between the naval forces of the Philippines and

China is in danger of escalating, as the U.S. continues to watch anxiously.

China has now sent a third ship to support its claim to the area known as

Scarborough Shoal off the northwestern Philippines.

Philippine warships attempting to arrest the crews of a Chinese fishing fleet that had

entered the territory sparked the latest dispute between the two Asian countries.

They were stopped from doing so by the arrival of two Chinese surveillance ships,

which then ordered the Philippine warships to leave the area.

They refused arguing that its Philippine territory and have since sent a second

warship to the area.

"We're not retreating from our own territory," Alexander Pama, Chief Vice Admiral ofthe Philippine navy said.

China also claims the rich fishing ground as its own despite it being within 200

nautical miles of the Philippines.

"The timing of the dispute suggests China is keen to send a message to the

Philippines and the U.S. ahead of their bilateral military exercise, and to assert its

authority in the disputed area," Maria Patrikainen, a global insight analyst at IHS toldFox News.
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The escalation in naval forces has caused consternation in capital across the Asian

region and further afield.

"We urge all parties to exercise full restraint and seek a diplomatic resolution," a

State Dept. spokesperson said.

On the surface this would seem to be a minor dispute between two countries but it

is in fact part of a much wider problem that may lead to U.S. military involvement.

On any map you buy in China of the country you will see a huge bulge down in the

south showing the territory it claims in the South China Sea.

It's an enormous area, which spreads near to the shores of the Philippines,

Indonesia, Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia.

It even spreads nearly as far as Singapore.

No other country in the region recognizes China's sovereignty, but that hasn't

stopped Beijing from marking its claim by any means it can.

This includes building concrete forts, occupied by troops on isolated coral reefs and

placing concrete markers in other areas, even underwater, to support their claim.

And China has been prepared to take military action in the past to take control of

some islands.

Back in 1974 China and Vietnam fought a battle over the Paracel Islands in the

South China Sea. Beijing's overpowering force including submarines won and they

have remained under the control of China since then.

The two countries also have an ongoing dispute over the Spratly Islands which last

year was in danger of escalating.

Vietnam accused China of cutting cables to their survey ships.

The U.S. military continues to watch China's actions in the South China Sea closely.

It continues to send surveillance planes and ships into the area even at the risk ofprovoking China.


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In 2009 a U.S. ship in the area had a confrontation with Chinese naval forces that

claimed the U.S. vessel had entered its waters.

And in 2001 a U.S. intelligence aircraft was intercepted over the South China Sea

and was involved in a midair collision that left one Chinese pilot dead and forced the

U.S. plane to land in China.

The reasons behind all this interest by competing powers in the South China Sea are

twofold.

Outside powers like the U.S. view the area as a key international waterway in which

a large part of world trade passes through. Last year the U.S. said maintaining

stability in the area is part of its "national interests."

U.S. aircraft carriers regularly pass through the South China Sea on their way to and

from the Middle East.

And the second reason is it is widely believed that under the South China Sea there

are huge quantities of oil and gas.

China and other nations who claim all, or part of, the area are hoping it will givethem energy security.

The difficulty at the moment is that China is seen in many Asian capitals as a bully

who wants to grab all of it and will only negotiate with each country separately.

President Obama announced last year that the U.S. would turn its strategic attention

more towards Asia to ensure stability there.

The first of the 2,500 U.S. marines that are to be based in Australia have already

started arriving.

It has long been feared that this could be the next area in Asia where there may be

armed conflict, and the disputes, if not handled properly threaten to lead to a

confrontation between Beijing and Washington.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/04/12/sea-dispute-escalates-as-

china-and-philippines-deploys-more-warships/#ixzz1rvRH13B1
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Philippines and China in a Standoff at SeaBy FLOYD WHALEY April 11, 2012

MANILA Philippine and Chinese officials on Wednesday called for a diplomatic

solution to a naval standoff in the South China Sea, while insisting that they would

defend their territorial claims in the region.

If the Philippines is challenged, we are prepared to secure our sovereignty, Albert

F. del Rosario, the Philippine foreign secretary, said at a news conference as a

Philippine frigate and two Chinese ships positioned themselves near disputed islands

in the South China Sea. The Chinese Embassy in Manila issued a statement

reaffirming its claim to sovereignty over the islands and said that the Philippine Navy

was harassing its fishing vessels in the area.

The standoff comes at a time of increasing assertiveness by China in its claims to the

South China Sea waters around the Philippines. The dispute intensified after the

Philippines announced in February that it would invite foreign energy companies to

explore for oil and gas in the waters west of Palawan Province, and adjacent to the

Spratly Islands.

The Philippines, an ally of the United States, has become a particular target of

Chinas anger in the South China Sea disputes. Some analysts speculate that

Beijings harsher tone could be a tit-for-tat after Secretary of State Hillary Rodham

Clinton stood on the deck of an American warship last November in Manila Bay and

reaffirmed the military alliance between the Philippines and the United States.

Mrs. Clinton referred to an area of the South China Sea as the West Philippine Sea

a name used by the Philippines but not other nations a point that irritated the

Chinese.

In a demonstration of how exploration of oil and gas is a crucial aspect of the South

China Sea territorial disputes, American and Philippine naval exercises this month will

include one that involves retaking a hijacked oil rig, according to the Philippine

military. The current naval standoff began Sunday when Philippine surveillance

aircraft spotted eight Chinese fishing boats near Scarborough Shoal, an outcropping

of rocks 124 nautical miles west of Luzon Island in the Philippines. The shoal, which
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is called Panatag in the Philippines and Huangyan in China, is claimed by both

countries.

The Philippine Navy sent the Gregorio del Pilar, a 378-foot patrol frigate that was

formerly an American Coast Guard cutter. The ship arrived early Tuesday and found

the boats anchored inside the horseshoe-shaped shoal, according to Vice Adm.

Alexander P. Pama.

At about 7:20 in the morning, the boarding team started to conduct a board, search

and seizure on the first Chinese fishing vessel and found large amounts of corals,

sizable quantities of giant clams and live sharks in its compartments, Admiral Pama

told reporters on Wednesday, adding that the other Chinese boats carried similar sea

resources that he said were illegal to harvest.

On Tuesday afternoon, two Chinese surveillance ships, identified by Philippine

officials as Zhonggou Haijian 75 and Zhonggou Haijian 84, took positions at the

mouth of the lagoon within the shoal, blocking the Philippine Navy vessels access to

the fishing boats inside.

One of the Chinese ships radioed the Philippine ship and said that the area was

Chinese territory and that the Philippine Navy should withdraw. The Philippine

captain responded that the shoal was his countrys territory. As of late Wednesday,

the vessels remained in position.

In its statement, the Chinese Embassy said the fishing boats were in the lagoon

seeking shelter from a storm when a Philippine Naval gunboat blocked the entrance

of the lagoon, and sent 12 Philippine soldiers, 6 of which armed, into the lagoon and

harassed the Chinese fishermen.

It went on to say that the embassy had contacted the Philippine government and

reiterated Chinas sovereignty over Huangyan Island, urged the Philippine side to

stop immediately their illegal activities and leave this area.

Scarborough Shoal, which sits amid rich fishing grounds, has been a point of

contention for more than a decade between China and the Philippines. Fishermen

from both countries have had previous confrontations with opposing naval vessels.


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The Philippines claims the area as part of its 200-mile exclusive economic zone,

while China says that the area was mapped as Chinese territory as early as the 13th

century. The shoal lies north of the Spratly Islands, which are also claimed by China,

the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations.

In Beijing last week, a Foreign Ministry spokesman reiterated that China had

indisputable sovereignty over the Spratly Islands and their adjacent waters, and

resolutely opposed actions by other countries that damage Chinas sovereignty.

In an article published online this week, a Chinese Army officer accused the

Philippines of trying to use American power to intimidate China. The officer, Maj.

Gen. Luo Yuan, warned that China might reconsider its planned $50 billion

investments in the Philippines.

Last week, at a summit meeting of Southeast Asian leaders, China strongly opposed

an effort by the Philippines and Vietnam to draft a regional code of conduct to

resolve the territorial disagreements.

Bree Feng contributed research from Beijing.

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:

Correction: April 13, 2012An article on Thursday about a naval standoff between the Philippines and China in

the South China Sea described incorrectly the location of the Philippine island of

Luzon and Scarborough Shoal, which is claimed by both countries and is near where

Philippine surveillance aircraft spotted eight Chinese fishing boats on Sunday,

leading to the standoff. The shoal is 124 nautical miles west of Luzon, not east.


22/32



Philippines Dispatches 2nd Boat inNaval Standoff with China

VOA News April 12, 2012

Photo: Reuters

Handout photo shows members of Philippine Army inspecting one of eight Chinese

fishing boats spotted in the Scarborough Shoal, a small group of rocky formations

whose sovereignty is contested by the Philippines and China, in the South China Sea,

about 124 nautical miles off the main island of Luzon, April 10, 2012.

The Philippines and China continued looking for a diplomatic solution to a naval

standoff on Thursday, even as Manila sent a second vessel to disputed islands in the

South China Sea.

Philippines foreign ministry spokesperson Raul Hernandez said a coast guard boat

has been sent to the Scarborough Shoal, located about 230 kilometers off the

northwestern Philippines.

It will join the Philippine Navy's largest vessel, the U.S.-built Gregorio del Pilar, which

since Tuesday has been in a standoff with two Chinese surveillance vessels that

blocked the arrest of a group of Chinese fishermen there.


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Both sides say they prefer to solve the situation diplomatically, but warn that they

will take further steps to protect their sovereign rights to the group of islands, which

are known as Panatag in the Philippines, and as Huangyan Island in China.

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario says his government continues

to hold talks with Ma Keqing, the Chinese ambassador in Manila.

China's Communist Party-affiliated Global Times newspaper said Thursday that

Beijing will continue to strive for peace and stability, but warned that it will not make

"unprincipled concessions to the recklessness of other countries." The editorial also

accused the U.S. of worsening the situation by encouraging the Philippines and

Vietnam to "take more risks." It did not elaborate.

The Philippines says it first noticed the Chinese fishing boats on Sunday. When

Philippine authorities confronted the fishermen on Tuesday, Manila says the two

Chinese surveillance ships positioned themselves between the warship and the

Chinese fishing boats, "preventing the arrest of the erring fishermen."

China says the fishing boats were simply taking shelter near the island due to

inclement weather. It said the two surveillance ships were taking action to safeguard

"Chinese national maritime interests and rights."


24/32



Philippines Warship, Chinese Vessels inStandoffSimone Orendain | Manila April 11, 2012 voa

Photo: Reuters

Philippine Navy flag officer-in-command vice admiral Alexander Pama presents to the

media an undated file photo of a Chinese surveillance ship which blocked a

Philippine Navy ship from arresting Chinese fishermen, April 11, 2012.A Philippine

naval ship, two Chinese vessels and at least eight fishing boats are in a standoff

near a shoal in the South China Sea that the Philippines says is well within its

territory. However, China says the fishermen are in its sovereign waters. Both sides

say they are trying to come to a diplomatic solution.

Illegal poaching discovered

The Philippine Navy says in recent days its patrol ship discovered illegal poaching by

Chinese fishermen in waters off of Scarborough shoal, 230 kilometers west

Zambales, Philippines. The country argues that is well within the 370 kilometer

exclusive economic zone designated by international law.


25/32



The head of the navy says officers went on board eight boats and found coral, large

clams and live sharks which are listed as endangered by the Philippines. He says

they were not able to arrest the fishermen because two Chinese government boats

arrived and positioned themselves between the fishing boats and the Philippinepatrol ship.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario summoned Chinas ambassador and says

he reiterated the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which states a

country has sovereignty over waters that are 370 kilometers from its coastline. He

says their first round of talks hit an impasse. I mentioned that, if the Philippines is

challenged, we are prepared to secure our sovereignty, he said.

China claims sovereignty over practically the entire South China Sea, based on a

centuries old map. Apart from the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan

also have partial or entire claims in the sea, which has abundant waters, potential

vast reserves of oil and natural gas and some of the most highly traveled sea lanes.

In the past year, the Philippines has complained of numerous run-ins with China on

the South China Sea. China maintains its historical claim.

China says law enforcement activities a violation

A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Liu Weimin, told a briefing

Wednesday that China has launched solemn representations with the Philippines

about the incident on the shoal locally named Huangyan.

He says the attempt by the Philippines to carry out the so-called law enforcement

activities in waters off of Huangyan Island is in violation of Chinese sovereignty as

well as the consensus between the two countries to maintain peace and stability of

the South China Sea.

In a statement, the Chinese ambassadors office urged the Philippines to stop what it

called illegal activities by the Navy and demanded its ship to leave the area.


26/32



Vessels stalled

The U.S.-built Gregorio Del Pilar, positioned at the mouth of the lagoon, continues to

pen-in the two Chinese government ships and the fishing boats. The navy saysnothing has been taken off the boats. Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard says it

will deploy a patrol boat to keep watch over the Naval ship, which is the Philippines

one and only warship.

Del Rosario says he is confident the situation will not escalate into armed conflict. He

pointed out the solid economic partnership the Philippines has with China and both

countries commitment to building friendly relations.

Three weeks ago the Philippines launched a two-year cultural exchange with China

that is intended to help solidify friendly relations between the two countries. Beijings

own launch was Wednesday.


27/32



War Games Begin Amid China-Philippines TensionSimone Orendain | Manila April 12, 2012

Photo: AP

Protesters clash with riot police and U.S. Embassy guards as the former rush

towards the embassy gates to protest the joint U.S.-Philippines military exercises

dubbed "Balikatan 2011," which opened in Manila, Philippines, April 5, 2011.

U.S. troops are in the Philippines this month for the 28th annual exercises that will

include war games in the South China Sea. Close to 8,000 troops from both

countries are scheduled to participate. This year's drills are scheduled to take place

in three locations including Palawan, a nearly 600-kilometer-long island bordering

the Sea and come amid heightened tensions between the Philippines and China over

a disputed island chain.

Restricted areasArmy spokesman Major Emmanuel Garcia says all activities will be restricted to areas

clearly under Philippine sovereignty. These exercises will be done near shore of the

Palawan group of islands," Garcia explained. "There is no way that we will conduct

these kinds of military exercises on contested, or on waters that are not ours.

Clearly all exercises will be done on Philippine territory."China claims practically the

entire South China Sea as its territory, based on old maps. That has put it in conflict

with other countries bordering the sea, a rich fishing ground and potential source of


28/32



major oil and gas reserves. China also accuses the United States of emboldening

other claimants to the sea through actions such as the coming military exercise.

Numerous times in the past year, the Philippines has complained of Chinese vessels

interfering with activities within Manila's exclusive economic zone, which extends for370 kilometers from its coastline under international law. China has repeatedly

insisted it was acting legally within its own waters.

Clear messageThat means this years military exercises will not be perceived as routine, according

to Carl Thayer who specializes in security in Southeast Asia at the University of New

South Wales. He notes the drills are always choreographed to make sure they stay

out of disputed waters.But nonetheless they send a clear message of the Philippines

building up military capability, the U.S. willing to support the Philippines and [being]

a deterrent to China," Thayer noted. "That it can see a country, which in the past,

was kind of a pushover militarily. Its still a weakling, but its developing strength

and that Chinas behavior is pushing at least the Aquino administration more and

more into asking for greater American, more frequent American presence."

Last month, Philippine President Benigno Aquino said the country is open to U.S.

troops stopping here more often. The welcoming message comes at a time when the

U.S defense agenda is shifting toward Asia.

Beneficial partnershipRommel Banlaoi says the U.S. also benefits from the partnership. Banlaoi is

executive director of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Terrorism and Violence

Research. The Philippines is a democracy, and having a democracy ally in Asia isgood for the United States in terms of democracy promotion in the world," he said.

"Secondly, by having a very good relationship with the Philippines, the United States

is also able to continue projecting its influence in Southeast Asia.

Apart from the high-profile military exercise, the United States is helping the

Philippines acquire affordable military hardware. In August, Manila augmented its

tiny naval fleet with a previously U.S.-owned Hamilton class cutter, the BRP Gregorio

Del Pilar, and it expects to take possession of another this year.


29/32



The Philippines has also received promises of support from U.S. Secretary of State

Hilary Clinton and ranking U.S. senators who visited early this year.Those

commitments could imply that the United States would indeed be certain to come to

the Philippine defense if they get into a dust-up with the Chinese over a territorialdispute, said Patrick Cronin, senior director of the Asia-Pacific Security Program at

the Center for New American Security.And while a Philippine-US alliance does

indeed promise that the United States will come to the defense of the Philippines in

general, it doesnt necessarily imply that it follows in all of the gray areas and

disputed areas," he added. "Especially in the maritime boundaries.

Neutrality

Cronin reiterates what the U.S. has stated repeatedly, that it will remain neutral

when it comes to territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Furthermore, Thayer

says the Philippines will have to demonstrate that it can take responsibility for its

own defense. The United States is looking for allies and strategic partners to carry

more of the heavy lifting at a time of budget cuts. So the more Philippine ships

patrol the waters and the U.S. can assist in whats called maritime domain

awareness, the more the Philippines can assert its own sovereignty, first, he said.

A spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Manila says Chinas response to the joint

military exercises is that it hopes the countries concerned can do more for peace and

stability in the region.


30/32



Philippine President Urges ASEAN Unity on SouthChina Sea


Photo: Reuters

Presidents and prime ministers pose for a photograph during the opening ceremony

of the 20th ASEAN summit and the celebration of the 45th Anniversary of ASEAN at

the Peace Palace, in the Office of the Council of Ministers in Phnom Penh, April 3,

2012.Philippine President Benigno Aquino is calling on the 10-member Association of

Southeast Asian Nations - ASEAN - to forge a code of conduct on territorial claims in

the South China Sea, before negotiating with China to ease festering regional

tensions.

Aquino, speaking Tuesday in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh, told other ASEAN

heads of state that the grouping must "maintain centrality" in its dealings withBeijing. ASEAN countries and non-member China hold conflicting claims to potential

mineral and energy deposits in the vast South China Sea, and several recent naval

confrontations have raised regional tensions.China has sought to negotiate with

individual ASEAN countries, and it was not clear from Tuesday's summit proceedings

how or if the two positions will be reconciled.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, whose country holds the rotating ASEAN chair,

opened the two-day summit Tuesday with a call for member-countries to work to

narrow the gap between the region's richest and poorest countries.


31/32



"Within the region, although the development gap among ASEAN members has been

noticeably narrow, it is still huge," he said. "This requires to double our efforts to

promote further growth and improve equitable distribution of the fruits of growth at

both the national and the regional among members countries."Cambodia maintainsclose ties with Beijing, and analysts predicted ahead of the summit that Phnom

Penh, as a key benefactor of Chinese investment, would seek to minimize the

maritime disputes as summit host.The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei all

claim parts of the potentially resource-rich South China Sea, putting them at odds

with Beijing, which claims the entire 3.5 million-square-kilometer area. The

Philippines and Vietnam have both accused Chinese vessels of intruding into their

exclusive economic zones and disrupting oil exploration activities. Both Manila and

Hanoi have acquired new navy ships as they vow to defend their claims, while China

has acquired its first aircraft carrier.Separately Tuesday, several ASEAN members

raised concerns about North Korea's planned missile launch later this month.

Pyongyang says the rocket will place a weather satellite into orbit. But the United

States and other nations say the launch violates United Nations' sanctions prohibiting

Pyongyang from launching rockets capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

ASEAN includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma, the

Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.


32/32


China Plans Tourist Visits to DisputedIslands


China says it will allow tourists to visit disputed islands in the South China Sea, a

move likely to further inflame tensions over the vast maritime region.

Beijing's plans for the Paracel islands are likely to irritate Vietnam, which also claims

the islands as part of its territory. Hanoi issued a statement last week denouncing a

sailing race around the Parcels staged by authorities in China's Hainan province.

In remarks first broadcast by Chinese state radio, officials say the tourist visits can

help China strengthen its claim over the islands, which are called Xisha in

Chinese.Beijing has become increasingly assertive about its claims over the entire

3.5 million-square-kilometer South China Sea, putting it at odds with Vietnam and

other regional rivals, including the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei, which also claim

parts of the waterway as their own. At this week's summit of the Association of

Southeast Asian Nations, the leaders of the 10-member bloc pledged to quickly

complete work on a code of conduct to resolve conflicts with China in the potentiallyresource-rich area.

china is bullying philippines

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