Manila's oil search could incite conflicts<\/p>\n
By Martin Abbugao<\/p>\n
MANILA (AFP): The Philippines' frenzied search for oil has led
\nit into potentially dangerous waters with the grant of an
\nexploration contract around the disputed Spratly islands,
\nanalysts said here Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Philippine officials in May gave the green light to Alcorn
\nPetroleum and Minerals Corp. and U.S. partner Vaalco Energy Inc.
\nof Houston, to begin preliminary exploration work on the Reed
\nBank, an undersea structure near the South China Sea chain.<\/p>\n
The six-month, non-exclusive contract includes \"research and
\nlibrary work\" on aeromagnetic surveys and other data held by the
\nDepartment of Energy.<\/p>\n
Philippine energy officials insist the area where the
\nexploration would be conducted is not part of the Spratlys -- a
\nchain of atolls in the South China Sea claimed wholly by China
\nand in part by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and
\nVietnam.<\/p>\n
The Spratlys are believed to sit atop vast deposits of oil and
\nnatural gas and also straddle strategic sea lanes. All claimants
\nbut Brunei have stationed troops on islets in the chain.<\/p>\n
Analysts say Manila's recent move would strengthen its
\nsovereignty over islets, reefs and atolls it has garrisoned, but
\ncould also have a political and diplomatic impact on efforts to
\npeacefully resolve the territorial dispute and suggestions for
\njoint development of the area.<\/p>\n
\"It's a response to what the Chinese and Malaysians are
\ndoing,\" Julius Cesar Parrenas, director of the International
\nInstitute for Strategic Studies, told AFP.<\/p>\n
He was referring to Beijing's granting of a contract to the
\nU.S.-based Crestone Energy Corp. to explore for oil in the area,
\nprompting vehement protests from Vietnam. Malaysia has also
\nembarked on a project to develop a resort in the Spratlys.<\/p>\n
\"One means of strengthening sovereignty is by already having
\nactivity there, such as a contract of government or development
\nplans,\" he said, adding that exploration was a good move by the
\nPhilippines.<\/p>\n
Noel Morada, an analyst with the Institute for Strategic and
\nDevelopment Studies, said what is crucial to the Philippines'
\nmove is the reaction of China and Vietnam.<\/p>\n
\"Since we are taking this particular action, we should be
\nprepared of the possible consequences,\" he said. \"This is an
\neconomic move which has political implications.\"<\/p>\n
Energy Secretary Delfin Lazaro and Undersecretary Rufino
\nBomasang on Tuesday sought to forestall trouble by insisting the
\npermit granted to Alcorn was limited to the Reed Bank and did not
\ninclude areas in the Spratlys.<\/p>\n
The Reed Bank is an underwater structure between the
\nPhilippine island of Palawan and most of the Spratlys.<\/p>\n
Lazaro and Bomasang said Manila had done exploratory drilling
\nthere in the 1970s, which had not been disputed by other
\nclaimants, adding that political and diplomatic repercussions had
\nbeen considered before the permit was granted.<\/p>\n
Alcorn said in a statement the research permit only covered
\nthe Reed Bank and excluded the disputed areas of the Spratlys.<\/p>\n
But the statement said the area of coverage also includes
\nPatag and Lawak islands -- two of the eight small islands and
\nreefs garrisoned by Philippine marines and collectively referred
\nto by Manila as the Kalayaan (Freedom) group.<\/p>\n
The group was annexed in a presidential decree by the late
\ndictator Ferdinand Marcos.<\/p>\n
The Philippines has become an attractive site for oil
\nexploration with news of recent oil strikes off Palawan,
\nconfirming the country's potential. It has programmed 18 wells
\nfor drilling this year, many in frontier areas.<\/p>",
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