The Philippines foreign affairs secretary warned freedom of navigation in the South China Sea faces a potential threat, if China continues to claim ownership of the entire sea.
Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario brought up the country’s grievance over what it calls China’s intrusions during a forum at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations security forum in Bali, Indonesia. Del Rosario highlighted at least seven run-ins involving Chinese vessels in what he says are Philippine waters.
The Philippines has officially complained to China over the matter, but China said there were no intrusions because it holds sovereignty over the entire sea, based on a map from the early 20th century that delineates the sea in nine broken dashes. Del Rosario called this a “baseless” claim and said the Philippines’ sovereign rights “could be denigrated.”
Read More at Voice of America
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Clinton Challenges Parties in S. China Sea Dispute to Prove Territory Claims
Secretary Clinton on Saturday said China and several members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' claims must also be in line with an 1982 international law of the sea.
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Philippines to Test South China Sea Agreement With Oil Exploration Push
By Daniel Ten Kate
The Philippines will go ahead with oil exploration in the South China Sea, challenging last week’s regional agreement with China aimed at lowering tensions over the disputed waters, Foreign Minister Albert F. del Rosario said.
Hydrocarbon resources “well within” Philippine sovereignty are essential to the country’s energy strategy, Rosario said in an interview. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton yesterday warned that increased confrontations in the area are a threat to sea lanes that are “absolutely essential” to world trade.
Read More at Bloomberg