China agrees to talk with RP about Spratlys

China agrees to talk with RP about Spratlys

MANILA (AFP): China has agreed to hold talks with the
Philippines over Beijing's occupation of a reef claimed by both
countries in the disputed Spratly island chain, the Chinese
ambassador to Manila said yesterday.

Huang Guifang told reporters the two countries would hold
"exploratory talks" on the Spratlys dispute, but did not
elaborate.

The Philippines lodged a diplomatic protest and boosted its
defenses in the disputed archipelago last week after its
discovery of permanent structures and the presence of Chinese
naval vessels on Mischief Reef, which it says lies within
Manila's 320-kilometer exclusive economic zone.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Roberto Romulo said Monday that
"we are already talking to China in both formal and informal
levels."

The reputedly oil-rich archipelago in the South China Sea
overlooking important merchant shipping routes, is claimed
completely by China, Taiwan and Vietnam and partially by Brunei,
Malaysia and the Philippines.

The Chinese ambassador spoke briefly to reporters after he and
other diplomats attended a wreath-laying ceremony led by
President Fidel Ramos at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier here.

Meanwhile, Philippine Navy patrol ships are cruising within
hailing distance of Chinese naval vessels in the disputed Spratly
island chain, officials said Wednesday.

A week after Philippine President Fidel Ramos ordered
increased military presence in the area, following the discovery
of permanent structures and Chinese naval vessels on the Mischief
Reef, armed forces chief Gen. Arturo Enrile said at least two
Chinese ships remained there.

"We are conducting surveillance, both sea and air, and making
sure that the presence of our troops there is felt," he told
reporters.

He said three naval patrol craft were within "half a mile" of
the Dazhi- and Yukan-class vessels guarding the structures on the
reef, but that there had been no provocations or other untoward
incidents.

"As a matter of fact they are close enough to be able to
challenge them and tell them, 'well, you are in (our) territorial
waters,'" Enrile added.

He said an unspecified number of Air Force F-5 interceptors
were making regular reconnaissance sorties over the reef from
their base on the southwestern Philippine island of Palawan.
Manila has 11 of these aging fighters, but not all of them are
serviceable.