{"id":40321,"date":"2015-01-30T00:18:27","date_gmt":"2015-01-29T16:18:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=40321"},"modified":"2015-01-30T00:18:27","modified_gmt":"2015-01-29T16:18:27","slug":"take-a-stand-on-china-reclamation-works-in-scs-dfa-chief-tells-asean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2015\/01\/30\/take-a-stand-on-china-reclamation-works-in-scs-dfa-chief-tells-asean\/","title":{"rendered":"Take a stand on China reclamation works in SCS, DFA Chief tells ASEAN"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Chinese<\/a>
Chinese vessel in Ayungin Shoal (PNP\/AFP Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

MANILA — Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario urged the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)to take a stand on China\u2019s massive reclamation works on disputed areas in the South China Sea, warning that such activities could eventually threaten all 10 members of the regional bloc.<\/p>\n

It was the first major call of the Philippines on the ASEAN, which is currently chaired by Malaysia, to take a definitive and stronger stand on the issue since the scale of China\u2019s ongoing construction was revealed last year.<\/p>\n

Four ASEAN members – Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam \u2013have been locked in long-simmering territorial rifts in the West Philippine Sea, also known as South China Sea. China and Taiwan are also involved in the disputes, which have long been feared as Asia\u2019s next potential flashpoint for a major armed conflict.<\/p>\n

Beijing insists ownership of nearly the whole of South China Sea, which is dotted by clusters of islands, cays, shoals and reefs with rich fishing areas. The vast sea is also believed to be abundant in oil and gas and is regarded as among the world\u2019s most strategic and busiest waterways.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow is the time for ASEAN to come together,\u201d said Del Rosario at the bloc\u2019s ministerial meeting in Kota Kinabalu on Wednesday. \u201cOur inaction on this would undermine the principle of centrality, since we are unable to address in a collective and unified manner such a critical issue in our own backyard.\u201d<\/p>\n

In his address, Del Rosario also lamented ASEAN\u2019s failure to fully implement a non-binding accord it signed with China in 2002 to stifle tensions and plans to craft a legally binding pact to prevent the territorial conflicts from degenerating by enacting rules that would discourage aggression.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet us pause for a moment to assess the significance of these massive reclamation projects, all of which are appearing to be near completion as portrayed by available photos,\u201d Del Rosario said.<\/p>\n

China\u2019s construction, he said, \u201clooks like it is part of a step by step realization of China\u2019s illegal nine-dash line\u201d — a U-shaped encirclement that covers the breadth of Beijing\u2019s claim in the waters.<\/p>\n

Malaysia hosted the two-day annual ASEAN ministerial meetings as chairman of the bloc, which also includes Indonesia, Singapore, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand.<\/p>\n

ASEAN has been criticized for failing to take stronger and rapid steps to ease the territorial conflicts in the South China Sea, which has been renamed West Philippine Sea by Manila.<\/p>\n

Analysts see division among its members in their political alliances between Asian powerhouse China and the United States, which has been trying to reassert its influence in the Asia-Pacific region after several years of pre-occupation in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.<\/p>\n

The Philippines and Vietnam, on the other hand, have separately increased their military engagements with Washington as they confronted China in a number of incidents in the disputed waters.<\/p>\n

Del Rosario, who is leading the Philippine delegation in Malaysia, warned fellow ASEAN ministers that China\u2019s reclamation is \u201ca threat to freedom of navigation, especially when combined with other threats such as the observation network system and the Air Defense Identification Zone, which should concern all responsible nations.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMoreover, the profile of these developments would appear to establish full control of China over the South China Sea,\u201d he stressed.<\/p>\n

Del Rosario also reminded the ministers that the massive reclamation is causing \u201cwidespread destruction of the region\u2019s marine biodiversity\u201d and could \u201cirreparably damage the entire ecological balance in the South China Sea.\u201d<\/p>\n

Manila has maintained its position that the territorial row should be resolved through international law, specifically a United Nations maritime treaty signed by the Philippines, China and 162 other governments.<\/p>\n

The Philippines filed a case against China in 2013 before a Netherlands-based arbitral tribunal to try to declare Beijing\u2019s enormous claim as illegal. Angered by Manila\u2019s move, China declared several times that it will not join the proceedings as it does not recognize Manila\u2019s case.<\/p>\n

Keeping its silence on China\u2019s activities, which has alarmed many foreign governments, such as the United States and Japan, \u201cpresents a strategic policy dilemma for ASEAN,\u201d Del Rosario said.<\/p>\n

\u201cASEAN should endeavor to speak with one voice in asking China to explain why it is undertaking these massive reclamation projects,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith both freedom of navigation, peace and stability at risk, ASEAN as a regional force should consider reaching out to the community of nations to help us say to China that what it is doing is wrong, that it must immediately stop its reclamation activities,\u201d Del Rosario said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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