China, Philippines vow consultations on South China Sea

China, Philippines vow consultations on South China Sea

Agencies, Manila

Chinese Defense Minister Chi Haotian and his Philippine
counterpart Angelo Reyes vowed on Sunday vowed to use "peaceful
consultations and negotiations" in dealing with territorial
conflicts in the South China Sea.

Both officials also emphasized increased cooperation in
counter-terrorism and in the modernization of the poorly-equipped
Philippine military in a joint statement just before Chi departed
for China.

Reyes and Chi said both countries were committed to "address
the South China Sea dispute through peaceful consultations and
negotiations" with the aim of making the area into "waters of
peace and cooperation."

Chi, who was on a four-day goodwill visit, said he supported a
"mechanism to resolve the issue," of conflicting claims by China,
the Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Taiwan and Malaysia to islands
in the South China Sea.

Reyes said China was willing to take part in the drafting of
the "code of conduct" for the claimants which has been proposed
to ease tensions over the Spratly islands in the South China Sea.
However both officials did not give specifics on China's role in
forging the code.

The code was first proposed by the Philippines but has been
held up by disputes over the wording and the area it would cover.
Chi reiterated that China was supporting the Philippines in the
war against terrorism and was ready to hold exchanges and
cooperation in this area.

Reyes also said Beijing was ready to provide support and
assistance in modernizing the Philippine military. Officials
earlier said that during the trip, China offered 40 military
trucks costing three million dollars and Mandarin language
training programs for Filipino military personnel.

Chi's visit came amid a diplomatic row between China and the
Philippines over the detention of 122 Chinese fishermen for
poaching and illegal fishing. China sought their immediate
release, but Philippine officials insisted they should plead
guilty, which they did last Friday, and pay fines.

China also has objected to a possible Philippine military
purchase of used F-5 fighter jets from Taiwan, which Beijing
considers a renegade province not entitled to political or
military ties with other countries.

The Philippines reiterated its adherence to a "one China
policy," which Chinese Ambassador Wang Chungui said was a
guarantee that the Southeast Asian nation would not entertain any
military deal with Taiwan.

Chi emphasized in the statement that China and the Philippines
"are close neighbors and share mutual support" and do not have a
"history of war and confrontation."

"I don't believe the differences or disputes between our two
countries should block the furthering of friendly relations," the
72-year-old Chi told reporters before boarding a China Southern
Airline plane. "Our stance has been consistent that we need to
engage in peaceful negotiations to settle all the disputes
between us and we surely can promote our relations in the spirit
of mutual trust and mutual benefit."

Meeting Chi on Saturday, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
said the Philippines has avoided actions that could aggravate
territorial disputes, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said.

Arroyo called for intensified cooperation with China in the
fight against terrorism that also would build confidence. Both
Chi and Reyes said the United Nations should play a leading role
in the fight against terrorism.