Manila to seek UN help on Spratlys

Manila to seek UN help on Spratlys

MANILA (Reuter): The Philippines said yesterday it was considering elevating the issue of China's occupation of a coral reef in the disputed Spratly islands to the United Nations Security Council and the World Court.

Foreign Secretary Roberto Romulo refused to give details of "the military aspects" of the country's strategy but made it clear the Philippines had no wish for a military confrontation with China.

Romulo was speaking before the Senate foreign relations committee, which called a hearing to study what Manila could do to persuade China to withdraw from a portion of the Spratlys that the Philippines claims as its own.

The Philippines has accused China of violating international law by sending warships and building substantial structures on Mischief Reef in the Kalayaan (Freedom) island group.

The military said on Sunday that China had pulled out seven of its nine vessels but that the facilities remained.

The Spratlys is a cluster of isles, reefs and shoals in the South China Sea which are claimed wholly or in part by China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei.