PHL envoy: Chinese open to keep distance from Pag-asa Island

BEIJING — The Chinese are open to “keeping distance” form Pag-asa Island where the presence of Chinese militia have been reported, Philippine Ambassador Jose Santiago Sta. Romana said Wednesday.

Romana said the Philippines had raised the issue of Chinese presence last week ahead of President Rodrigo Duterte’s attendance in the Belt and Road Forum here.

The two leaders will also discuss the issue in the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea during their bilateral meeting on April 25.

“They don’t avoid that,” Romana said.

Romana added that the Chinese have assured the Philippines that it has “no intention to use force” in the area.

“They have no intention to occupy Pag-asa,” Romana said. 

But it’s a different, more complicated issue when it comes to the Scarborough Shoal (Panatag Shoal) where the Chinese position is harder.

Sta. Romana said the Chinese Coastguard is in control of the shoal now after the Philippines had lost control over the territory in 2012 after the Philippines pulled out from the area in a supposed agreement brokered by the United States but not followed by the Chinese.

The Duterte administration, either through the President or his spokesperson, has often blamed former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario for the snafu.

“Well, you see this is the controversy. We don’t know really know what happened in that negotiation. Some Chinese claim that the deal was only to withdraw from the shoal, not --- from inside the lagoon but not the shoal. So in other words, there --- we don’t know what happened. That’s why [we] don’t give up direct talks,” Romana said.

What the government is trying to do now is to preserve access lanes so that Filipino fishermen can continue fishing in the area. — RSJ, GMA News