China must learn to honor its pacts

In 1995, after a particularly tense row, the Manila government seized the diplomatic initiative. It concluded what was called a code of peaceful conduct to govern actions in the Spratlys by the Philippines, China and Vietnam. Its most important point was that each government agreed to give the others advance notice of all naval activity planned inside the Spratly Islands.

China clearly reneged on that code of honor last month. Its surprising foray into the most disputed of the Spratlys waters met neither the letter nor the spirit of the code. The only credit China can claim for the troubling incursion was that it withdrew its three ships after the Philippines complained publicly of their presence.

Now Manila is taking the breach of trust by China a step forward. A high-ranking Philippines navy officer said on the weekend his country would construct more bases on the Spratlys. Vice Admiral Eduardo Maria Santos said Manila also is buying three cannon-equipped vessels from Hong Kong to deploy to waters immediately beside the Spratlys.

This occurred while Philippine President Fidel Ramos was in the United States, urging the U.S. to keep a strong naval presence in Asia because of what he called a perceived Chinese military flexing.

Recent Chinese actions in disputed waters are not, however, just a perception. The decision by China to start drilling for oil in waters claimed by Vietnam occurred in the same manner as its incursion into the Spratlys. China's decisions to withdraw its ships in both cases are only minor credits. Neither incident should have been undertaken without notifying other governments concerned.

China's insistence that it owns the Spratlys and other waters is understandable. What is difficult to fathom is China's refusal to show goodwill or even to follow undertakings Beijing pledged to with other governments about such disputed territories.

The China-ASEAN dialog held in March was an indication that Beijing takes Southeast Asia seriously. Its needless confrontations with Vietnam and the Philippines which followed send a different message. Thailand, which has no territorial disputes with China, has a decided interest in supporting peaceful and diplomatic solutions to such disagreements. Violence and confrontation will not settle the Spratly Islands ownership question. China must be made to see that breaking its agreements will fail to raise its image in Southeast Asia and ASEAN.

-- The Bangkok Post