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.