RP plays down reports of intrusion by Vietnam<\/p>\n
MANILA (Reuter): The Philippines, riled by Chinese occupation
\nof a South China Sea coral reef it says belongs to Manila, played
\ndown yesterday reports of similar Vietnamese activities in the
\narea.<\/p>\n
President Fidel Ramos said Vietnamese installations in a
\ncluster of isles in the Spratly Islands claimed by Manila were
\nbuilt long before the signing of a Manila declaration in 1992
\nurging a peaceful settlement to the Spratlys territorial row.<\/p>\n
\"I think what is being reported is old construction already
\nthere for quite some time,\" Ramos told his weekly news
\nconference.<\/p>\n
Foreign Secretary Roberto Romulo said the 1992 accord
\nestablished a \"new norm of friendly conduct\" among Spratly
\nclaimants which China violated by construction on Mischief Reef
\nin the Kalayaan group claimed by the Philippines.<\/p>\n
The Vietnamese intrusions occurred before 1992, he said.<\/p>\n
Military intelligence sources said the Vietnamese facilities
\nconsisted of naval garrisons armed with light to medium weapons
\nbuilt in the 1980s on four isles in Kalayaan.<\/p>\n
The Vietnamese buildup could give China an excuse not to
\nwithdraw from Mischief Reef, the sources said.<\/p>\n
\"Before 1992, there have been instances where people have
\ntaken over islands which others claim,\" Romulo said.<\/p>\n
\"That is the case at hand with Vietnam. But since July 1992,
\nnobody has done that except that instance in Mischief Reef, and
\nthat is our cause for concern.\"<\/p>\n
The Philippines last week released pictures of the Chinese
\nstructures built on stilts which it said looked like a possible
\nnaval support installation.<\/p>\n
The Spratlys are claimed wholly or in part by China, the
\nPhilippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.<\/p>\n
Three of the claimants - Malaysia, the Philippines and Brunei
\n- were signatories to the Manila declaration of the Association
\nof Southeast Asian Nations, which also includes Indonesia,
\nThailand and Singapore.<\/p>\n
Both Vietnam and China, although not members of ASEAN, have
\nalso adhered to the declaration.<\/p>\n
\"At that time, all of ASEAN signed and Vietnam and China
\nacceded to that declaration,\" Romulo said.<\/p>\n
\"Since then, everyone has exercised self-restraint. What
\nhappened in Mischief Reef was the exact opposite of self-
\nrestraint.\"<\/p>\n
The Philippines is strengthening its meager forces in the
\nKalayaan area and has lodged a strong protest with<\/p>\n
The Mischief Reef incident spurred the Senate to pass by a 19-
\n0 vote a long pending bill on Thursday for the modernization of
\nthe country's ill-equipped armed forces.<\/p>\n
The bill, calling for 50 billion pesos (US$2 billion) over a
\nfive-year period, provides for the acquisition of jet fighters,
\nmodern patrol craft, radar and other equipment.<\/p>\n
Passage of the measure should send a message to neighboring
\ncountries that \"we value our territorial integrity\", Senator
\nOrlando Mercado, its author, said.<\/p>\n
\"This bill wants to say that we may not be prepared to defend
\nour territories now, but we will not remain (like this) for
\nlong,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rp-plays-down-reports-of-intrusion-by-vietnam-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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