China, RP open talks on Spratlys<\/p>\n
BEIJING (Reuter): China and the Philippines opened talks on
\nthe disputed Spratly Islands yesterday after Philippine President
\nFidel Ramos accused Beijing of a military build-up in the South
\nChina Sea archipelago.<\/p>\n
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan and his Philippine
\ncounterpart, Rodolfo Severino, began the talks at the Diaoyutai
\nState Guest House in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry and
\nPhilippine embassy officials said.<\/p>\n
Severino arrived in Beijing on Sunday for annual bilateral
\nconsultations on a range of issues, including cultural, economic,
\npolitical and security, a Philippine embassy spokesman said. He
\nis scheduled to leave tomorrow.<\/p>\n
\"Security is being emphasized this year because of the Spratly
\nissue,\" the spokesman said. He could not provide further details.<\/p>\n
The Spratlys in the South China Sea are potentially rich in
\noil and are claimed wholly or in part by Brunei, China, Malaysia,
\nthe Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.<\/p>\n
The talks are the first on the Spratlys since the Philippines
\naccused China of building what it said looked like a possible
\nnaval support installation over the Mischief Reef, 135 nautical
\nmiles west of the southwest Philippine island of Palawan, and of
\nsending armed ships to the area.<\/p>\n
Ramos has publicly urged the Chinese to leave and lodged
\nformal diplomatic protests. Philippine lawmakers have called for
\na military build-up to counter the Chinese presence.<\/p>\n
China has said the facilities were built by local Chinese
\nfishing authorities and intended as shelter for fishermen.<\/p>\n
Chinese Foreign Minister Qian Qichen said this month
\ndevelopment of the reef was non-military and posed no threat to
\nother claimants.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/china-rp-open-talks-on-spratlys-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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