MikeLigalig.com

by Rafael M. Alunan III
July 08, 2013 09:08:18 PM


TWO WEEKS ago, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi accused ASEAN of an anti-Beijing conspiracy over disputed South China Sea (SCS) territory at the start of the foreign ministers meeting in Brunei, and called the Philippines a provocateur for stirring tensions in the SCS. That imperious salvo triggered a sharp response from DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario. China’s claim of indisputable sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea (SCS) based on its 9-dash line is a grossly excessive claim. He reiterated that the dispute must be settled in accordance with international law and asked all the countries in the meeting to support the rule of law.


Following that verbal clash, Chinese state media warned that a “counterstrike” against the Philippines was inevitable if it continued to provoke China. Last week, People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Maj. Gen. Luo Yuan scored the US and the Philippines, calling the US “biased” and accusing it of enabling Manila to play the role of “troublemaker.” In the past two years or so, China has been spewing coercive language through its media mouthpieces, foreign ministry and military institutions, threatening the Philippines with punishment, even war.

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 â€œTo enter the shoal the Philippines must first ask permission from our navy ships to enter and then again from the fishery administration ships and marine surveillance ships. That way, our fishermen can carry on safely as China’s marine rights, interests and sovereignty are safeguarded.” Zhaozhong adds:

“We should do more such things in the future. If we carry out the ‘cabbage’ strategy, you [Philippines] will not be able to send food and drinking water onto the islands. Without supply, the troops stationed there will leave the islands. Once they do, they will never be able to come back. We have to grab the right timing to do them. Over the past few years, we’ve had a number of achievements at the Nansha Islands (the Spratly Islands), the greatest of which I think have been on the Huangyan Island (Scarborough), Meiji Reef (Mischief Reef) and Ren’ai Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal or Ayungin).”

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On August 30, 2008, MFA Department of Treaty and Law Oceans and Law of the Sea Division Deputy Director Yin Wenqiang told a US embassy political officer, “China has indisputable sovereignty over the islands in the SCS and the adjacent waters.” However, “Yin admitted he is not aware of the historical basis for the ‘Nine Dashes’ and only mentioned unspecified ‘Chinese historical documents’ to justify China’s claims.”

The US official also talked to Beijing University Asia scholar Yang Baoyu. Yang referred to a 2000 MFA “white paper” on the Spratlys that devotes little attention to the history of the “Nine Dashes,” providing only vague references to areas frequented by fishermen from Hainan. Yang stated that China’s claims “date back to ancient times, prior to the development of the modern nation-state.” Neither Yin nor Yang could specify a historical document that indicated the basis for the demarcation of the “Nine Dashes.”

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China’s belligerent behavior has become bad for business. Should it trigger armed conflict in the future, everyone stands to lose. We must therefore stand our ground and push it back with dignified defiance in every arena -- legal, diplomatic, media, science, arts, academe, military and in the parliament of the streets -- toward a peaceful resolution of our dispute as required of civilized nations and signatories to the Law of the Sea. No to lose-lose! No to win-lose! Yes to win-win all around!

On July 24, citizens and netizens belonging to various groups under the West Philippine Sea Coalition intend to stage a protest rally from noon to 2:00 p.m. before the Chinese Consulate at the World Center along Buendia. Similar protests by Fil-Ams in New York and San Francisco will be held on that day too. Patriots here and abroad, where a Chinese Consulate or Economic Affairs Office may be found, are encouraged to take the initiative to stage their own protest.

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