Manila announces Security meet

Manila announces Security meet

MANILA (UPI): President Fidel Ramos announced yesterday that Manila's National Security Council will meet on April 21 to assess the Spratlys issue, the Philippines' diplomatic rift with Singapore and a recent Moslem attack in the south which left more than 50 people dead.

Ramos said the NSC -- composed of former presidents of the country, senators, congressmen, government officials, military officials and security advisers -- is expected to reach a consensus on how to deal with the three developments which have threatened the Philippines' national security.

In January, the Philippine Navy reported the presence of Chinese vessels and structures in the Spratlys' Kalayaan group of islands being claimed by the Philippines. The Spratlys are a chain of 230 largely uninhabited atolls and reefs which straddle major shipping lanes in the South China Sea and are believed to sit atop a US$1 trillion oil and natural gas bonanza.

Despite its call for peace, Manila blasted in March structures built by Chinese fishermen in the Spratlys' Jackson atoll, Half Modon reef and Sabina reef which are about 70 nautical miles from the Philippine island province of Palawan.

Aside from the Philippines and China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei have claimed the Spratlys in whole or in part. Except for Brunei, all have stationed military troops in the areas they have claimed.