PHL not focused on potential arms race with China over sea row – Palace

The Philippine government is not focused on a potential arms race with China over the resource-rich parts of the South China Sea, as projected by a Supreme Court justice, Malacañang said Thursday.

 

At a press briefing, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the Philippines is still determined to push for a peaceful resolution to its territorial spat with China.

 

Coloma nevertheless acknowledged that Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, who raised the possibility of a naval arms race among claimant countries in the South China Sea, has “reasonable basis” to make such projections.

 

“Merong makatuwirang batayan si Justice Carpio para maglatag ng sitwasyon na maaaring maganap iyong tinatawag na arms build-up or defense build-up pero ang focus po natin diyan ay hinggil doon sa rules based, diplomatic approach to achieving a peaceful solution,” the Palace official said.

 

At a press conference after briefing senators on the South China Sea row, Carpio said nations around the South China Sea will intensify efforts to beef up their navies and air forces until a court ruling settles the territorial dispute once and for all.

 

Carpio made this statement after the executive submitted a budget proposal in Congress seeking higher military spending.

 

President Benigno Aquino III has also actively supported modernization efforts for the Armed Forces of the Philippines. 

 

The magistrate also said the Philippine should convince fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to bring the territorial dispute before the International Court of Justice.   

 

Coloma, for his part, maintained that the Philippines wants the ASEAN and China to continue working on a legally-binding code of conduct on the South China Sea.

 

The Philippines is also waiting for a ruling from the arbitral tribunal based in the Netherlands on whether or not it will exercise its jurisdiction over the arbitration case against China. Beijing has refused to participate in the arbitration proceedings

 

China should stop construction work, Palace insists

 

As for China's reported plan to continue construction work in the disputed waters, Coloma said the Philippine government stands firm on its call for Beijing to stop such activities.

 

The Palace official pointed out that Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario had already made this call during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting earlier this month.

 

“Iyon pa rin ang ating posisyon hinggil sa isinasagawang aksyon sa mga lugar na tinutukoy sa West Philippine Sea,” Coloma said, referring to the portion of the South China Sea that the Philippines claims as its territory.

 

He added that this position has not changed despite China’s claim that the facilities they will build on contested waters are for search-and-rescue purposes, and to ensure freedom of navigation.

 

On Monday, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua said Beijing will start building shelters, buildings and search-and-rescue facilities on reclaimed areas in the South China Sea. 

 

The Chinese envoy admitted that “some necessary defense facilities” meant for scientific research will be built on the reclamation sites. — JDS, GMA News