Tension mounts as China poised to board ships in disputed seas

New passport for Sinos hit; Aquino eyes case in int’l court

MANILA  – Tension rose to new heights again as China unveiled a plan to board and search ships entering disputed areas in South China Sea, which includes the West Philippine Sea.
This prompted the head of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to air fears about the escalation of tension among the claimants of islands and reefs in the troubled waters, many of them are ASEAN members like the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, and Malaysia.
“My reaction is (this is) certainly an escalation of the tension that has already been building. And it is a very serious turn of events,” ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan was quoted by Reuters as saying.
 “It is extremely important to exercise restraint and to try to approach this development with a level head and be open to listen to concerns of all parties, all sides,” he said.
  In Manila, President Benigno S. Aquino III  has instructed the Department of Foreign Affairs to ask China to clarify reports saying Chinese authorities will board ships that will enter its territorial waters in the disputed West Philippine Sea.
The President said in Mandaue City in Cebu that he had told Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario to raise the issue with China to know whether the action is an official state policy.
Meanwhile, the Philippine government will implement its new visa regulation sometime next week for Chinese nationals who will use passports displaying a map that includes an area in the West Philippine Sea, where Beijing is asserting ownership.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesman Raul Hernandez on Thursday said all concerned agencies such as Philippine diplomatic missions and the Bureau of Immigration will “simultaneously” carry out the new policy aimed at denigrating China’s latest attempt to bolster its territorial claim.
Hernandez said visa and immigration stamps will be placed on a separate sheet of document given to Chinese visitors entering the Philippines.
Manila’s action reinforces its protest against what it calls China’s excessive claim over almost the entire potentially oil-rich South China Sea including areas in the the West Philippine Sea.
“This action is being undertaken to avoid the Philippines being misconstrued as legitimizing the 9-dash line every time a Philippine visa is stamped on such Chinese e-passport,” Hernandez said, referring to China’s U-shaped nine-dotted line claim that covers most of the sea and overlaps with Manila’s territories.
The Philippines move came after Vietnam implemented a similar policy on the new Chinese passports, which Manila called “unacceptable.”
“Kung mapatunayan na meron talagang ganoong kautusan, hindi proposal, at talagang gagawin nila… maglo-lodge tayo ng isang diplomatic note or formal protest. And it also tells us where to go to in terms of advancing our interest,” the President said.
“We might accelerate and bring it before the appropriate international tribunal to finally settle the matter, or at least start the process of settling it legally and concretely,” he added.
Asked if he’ll consider appealing to China not to exacerbate the situation, the President said he made it clear during the 21st ASEAN Summit in Cambodia, particularly during the East Asia Summit, that countries must work together to ease the tensions in the West Philippine Sea, and that everyone must show goodwill.
But the President said he does not want to jump into conclusions, that is why he asked the DFA to clarify the issue with China first before the Philippines does an appropriate response.
“Hintayin natin ma-determine fully kung ano ba talaga ang kanilang bagong patakaran, kung meron man. At kung mapatunayan…, kikilos tayo nang kaalinsunod doon sa…kung may kilos silang ganyan. Kung wala naman ay hindi tayo magdadagdag ng tensiyon,” the President said.
China’s state media said Thursday police in Hainan will board and search ships that will enter into what China considers its territorial waters in the disputed West Philippine Sea.
The new rules come into effect on Jan 1 and will allow Hainan police to board and seize control of foreign ships said to be illegally entering Chinese waters.
China claims sovereignty over most, if not all of the West Philippine Sea that is believed to be rich in natural gas and mineral deposits.
Aside from these resources, the area is important because it serves as a major sea lane to world’s trade and commerce.
The Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan and Malaysia all lay claims to the disputed territories.
The President also said the country may have a new ambassador to China by February to replace Sonia Brady who vacated the post a few months ago for health reasons.
He said that he will discuss the matter with Secretary Del Rosario Monday.
He said the Foreign Secretary had told him about a very capable candidate for the post.
“Siyempre may proseso pa tayong dadaanan. We will have this talk by Monday…ang final discussions namin on the matter, tapos ang process nang pag-nominate natin, haharap sa Commission on Appointments for approval bago siya makaupo,” he said.