Manila announces Security meet<\/p>\n
MANILA (UPI): President Fidel Ramos announced yesterday that
\nManila's National Security Council will meet on April 21 to
\nassess the Spratlys issue, the Philippines' diplomatic rift with
\nSingapore and a recent Moslem attack in the south which left more
\nthan 50 people dead.<\/p>\n
Ramos said the NSC -- composed of former presidents of the
\ncountry, senators, congressmen, government officials, military
\nofficials and security advisers -- is expected to reach a
\nconsensus on how to deal with the three developments which have
\nthreatened the Philippines' national security.<\/p>\n
In January, the Philippine Navy reported the presence of
\nChinese vessels and structures in the Spratlys' Kalayaan group of
\nislands being claimed by the Philippines. The Spratlys are a
\nchain of 230 largely uninhabited atolls and reefs which straddle
\nmajor shipping lanes in the South China Sea and are believed to
\nsit atop a US$1 trillion oil and natural gas bonanza.<\/p>\n
Despite its call for peace, Manila blasted in March structures
\nbuilt by Chinese fishermen in the Spratlys' Jackson atoll, Half
\nModon reef and Sabina reef which are about 70 nautical miles from
\nthe Philippine island province of Palawan.<\/p>\n
Aside from the Philippines and China, Vietnam, Taiwan,
\nMalaysia and Brunei have claimed the Spratlys in whole or in
\npart. Except for Brunei, all have stationed military troops in
\nthe areas they have claimed.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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