China very active in disputed waters
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Manila keeping a close eye on Beijing's moves, seeks ruling by UN tribunal
The Philippine Air Force monitored 10 to 12 Chinese Coast Guard vessels in the West Philippine Sea on maritime patrol missions, sensing haste in Chinese activity in disputed waters.
This development has prompted Manila to seek an expeditious ruling by a United Nations tribunal on its challenge to Beijing’s expansive claim over the South China Sea.
Late on Tuesday, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said China’s increased activities in disputed waters were escalating tensions in the region so Manila was looking to seek a quick ruling from the UN arbitration tribunal.
“Because China is not participating, and because the situation is getting worse every day in the South China Sea, I’m asking our [lawyers] in the US if we can present a request to the tribunal asking if they can hasten the process,” Del Rosario said.
The West Philippine Sea is part of the South China Sea within the Philippines’ 370-kilometre exclusive economic zone (EEZ), but China, insisting that it is part of its territory, is reclaiming land on various reefs in those waters that may be used to build offshore military outposts.
China’s dredging vessels are escorted by the coast guard ships to keep vessels from other states away.
“We have intensified the number of flights in the area so we can detect the presence of ships and developments on the islets … We can’t count the number of ships on a particular day because these are moving vessels on patrol. Their presence can’t be fixed in one place,” Air Force spokesperson Lt-Colonel Enrico Canaya said.
Colonel Florente Falsis, deputy Air Force chief for intelligence, said there were times when the Chinese Coast Guard vessels numbered 10 to 12, and at times just three or four.
Canaya said maritime patrols had also observed dredging on islets, confirming reports of “development” on islets and reefs in the media.
“Every time there is an air patrol, we observe their presence,” Canaya said.
Asean code, UN ruling
China’s haste to stake its claim to 90 per cent of the 3.5-million-square-kilometre South China Sea is seen as an effort to beat the conclusion of a code of conduct in disputed waters with its neighbours and a ruling by the UN International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.
China has refused to take part in the proceedings, but the tribunal ordered it to respond to the Philippine case by December 15.
Beijing has become increasingly aggressive in asserting its claim since the Philippine case went up and US President Barack Obama visited Asia in late April, assuring allies Japan and the Philippines that the United States would defend them if attacked over territorial disputes.
The Philippines has asked the tribunal to nullify China’s claim to almost the entire South China Sea, which Manila says encroaches on its exclusive economic zone and those of Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan, all of which also have claims in the strategic and resource-rich waterway.
Manila also wants to clarify maritime entitlements in the South China Sea and halt China’s incursions into the Philippines’ economic exclusion zone, which have become frequent in recent months.
Government officials have said it might take three to four years for the UN tribunal to issue a decision.
“[We hope], since China is not participating, perhaps we can get a quicker resolution from the tribunal,” Del Rosario said. “I’m hoping we will get something by next year, but we really don’t know.”
Del Rosario described the case as the “goal line” for the Philippines, which is also pressing for a freeze on activities that raise tensions, a non-aggression pact to prevent the rival claims from erupting into conflict, and legal action for resolving the conflicting claims.
“The only mechanism [for dispute resolution] that’s out there right now – the Philippines is the one that advanced it – is arbitration. So we hope to be able to get the arbitration in place, that will be the goal line for all of us,” Del Rosario said.
“It’s not only for the Philippines, it’s for the international community,” he continued. “With that, we can make sure that maritime entitlements are clarified … and, having done that, we will be able to say that there’s no more danger to freedom of navigation and freedom of overflight.”
