China and RP try to reduce tensions in Spratlys rift
China and RP try to reduce tensions in Spratlys rift
KUALA LUMPUR (AP): The leaders of China and the Philippines
gave their support on Tuesday to a plan designed to reduce
tensions caused by their dispute over a reef in the South China
Sea.
Philippine President Joseph Estrada said he and Chinese
President Jiang Zemin agreed to settle the dispute peacefully,
and endorsed a proposal to form a group of experts who will work
on finding ways to build confidence between the two nations.
Estrada's spokesman, Jerry Barican, said the leaders also
agreed that natural resources in the area of Mischief Reef should
be used jointly by the two nations.
With those two agreements, "we are confident the problem at
Mischief Reef can be solved diplomatically," Barican said.
Earlier this month, Manila lodged a diplomatic protest with
Beijing over the construction of various buildings on the reef
which the Philippines believes could be used militarily. The reef
is part of the disputed Spratly Island group.
China says the structures are shelters for Chinese fishermen
and the construction photographed by Philippine reconnaissance
planes was just repair work.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Tang Guoqiang, said he
appreciated the efforts made by Estrada "to resolve the matter
diplomatically."
"The Chinese side has repeatedly stated our position on this
question," Tang said at a briefing in Beijing. "We are always
committed to peace and stability in the South China Sea, and the
Chinese government sincerely hopes the Philippine side will fully
understand China's sincere position and handle relevant matters
calmly and appropriately."
The Spratlys, which straddle vital sea lanes in the South
China Sea, are claimed in whole by China, Vietnam and Taiwan, and
in part by Malaysia and the Philippines. Brunei claims one reef.
Estrada and Jiang are in Kuala Lumpur for meetings of the
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
The Philippine leader, a former movie star who is attending
his first APEC summit, read from cue cards during his meeting
with Jiang, appearing nervous in his new role.
In Manila, Estrada's executive secretary, Ronaldo Zamora, said
Philippine reconnaissance flights would continue over the
disputed area despite Tuesday's meeting.
"While we have received the assurances of the Chinese
government, we are nonetheless still making sure that we don't
drop our guard completely," he said.
He said China built the structures on the reef mainly to
reinforce its territorial claims.
"I don't really think that it is intended to threaten the
Philippines or any of the neighboring countries around the
Spratlys," he said. "It is basically to beef up their own claims
to the Spratlys."