Excursion

WITH bilateral relations between China and the Philippines blossoming in multiple fronts, the territorial dispute in the South China Sea or West Philippine Sea is an issue the two countries cannot simply dance around anymore.
Over the weekend, Beijing protested the visit by Manila’s defense and military chiefs to Pag-Asa, or Thitu Island, a disputed area in the South China Sea. The Philippine contingent was carried off by an Air Force C-130 transport plane on Friday, April 21 to assert the country’s claim to the disputed area where China is believed to have added missiles on man-made islands.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang expressed China’s displeasure over the high-profile Philippine visits to the island, saying China was “gravely concerned about and dissatisfied” by the island visits and adding that China “has lodged representations with the Philippine side.”
Manila maintains that it owns the territory, which is part of an island municipality under its western province of Palawan and is where some Filipino troops and villagers have lived for decades.
“The visit of the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to Pag-asa Island is part of the efforts to improve the safety, welfare, livelihood of Filipinos residing and living in the municipality of Kalayaan, which is part of the province of Palawan,” said Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella.
Malacañang earlier confirmed that representatives from the two countries have set up a meeting in May to craft a bilateral mechanism on how to “properly handle” maritime disputes. The scheme aims to forge mutual trust and maritime cooperation, and to further avoid misunderstandings and provocations over the issue.
President Rodrigo Duterte is set to visit China next month for the “One Belt, One Road” summit upon the invitation of President Xi Jinping.
China will also host a meeting in May with members of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to discuss the completion of a framework on the Code of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, which mandates self-restraint and non-militarization in the contested waters.
The Asian powerhouse claims the largest swathe of the strategic waters and has been increasingly assertive in pressing its ownership over the disputed areas against its smaller neighbors such as the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.
The sea has played a major role in globalization. But it has also provided an access for actions of oppression, drug trafficking, illegal immigration, smuggling, and other illegal activities.
Because of the many opportunities (and dangers) that lie in the sea, countries invest on their maritime forces to man the waters surrounding their nations not only to establish peace and security, but also protect their sovereignty. (AJPress)