Media boat trip to Spratlys to boost Philippine claim
Media boat trip to Spratlys to boost Philippine claim
MANILA (AFP): A boatload of journalists under Philippine naval
escort set sail yesterday for a Chinese-held reef in the disputed
Spratly Islands, a move by Manila which has drawn strong protests
from Beijing.
The chartered civilian ship with 38 foreign and Filipino
journalists on board was due to reach Mischief Reef in the South
China Sea by early Saturday after an overnight trip from the
southwestern Philippine island of Palawan.
The boat is scheduled to anchor off the Philippine-claimed
spit for a six- hour lay-over, during which a helicopter will fly
reporters over the reef to look at four manned, octagonal-shaped
structures fitted with satellite dishes and flying the Chinese
flag.
Beijing has vociferously condemned the trip, organized by the
Manila government, describing it as a "provocative" act that
would "internationalize the issue."
Beijing's ambassador to Manila unsuccessfully tried to have
the trip canceled.
AFP journalists flew over the reef in early April after
previous attempts by other local media to enter the Spratlys were
thwarted by the Philippine defense officials.
Philippine Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon said the current
tour was "purely civilian in nature" and was "part of our freedom
of the press."
"The mere fact the (foreign) journalists asked our permission
to go there may be an indication of how they perceive the
sovereignty question," he said.
He added that, in his view: "They are supporting our
perception that this group of islands belong to the Philippines."
China's presence on Mischief Reef, which is now guarded by at
least one naval vessel, has forced Manila to increase its
military presence in the strategic chain, which some experts say
sits on vast oil and mineral deposits.
Apart from China and the Philippines, the Spratlys are claimed
in whole or in part by Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.
Filipino troops arrested 62 fishermen on a shoal near Mischief
Reef in March and demolished territorial markers put up by China
in seven surrounding spits.
After visiting the reef, the chartered ship is scheduled to
return to Palawan, where a navy boat will take the journalists to
Pag-asa, the biggest of the seven Spratly islands garrisoned by
Philippine troops, to observe local elections there Sunday.
The trip "will work in favor of the Philippines," said analyst
Julius Caesar Parrenas of a Manila-based think-tank, the
Institute for International and Strategic Studies.
He predicted there would be a public-relations benefit for the
government, as it was showing that it was providing democracy to
residents in the disputed area.
The Philippines recently concluded its nationwide local and
congressional elections, but the polls were postponed in Pag-asa
island due to a delay in the delivery of election paraphernalia.
Manila claims there are about 100 voters there -- but most of
them are soldiers and their families.
"It's really a ritual," Parrenas says. "The different
claimants will try to do something to strengthen their claim. If
its building a base or putting markers for the Chinese, in our
case, we highlight democratic elections in the area."
"Democracy sounds very good to international public opinion,
and the holding of elections there will draw public sympathy," he
added.
He doubted that China would take any serious action against
the press trip, due to "the adverse impact it would have on
international opinion."
"Various countries have stated very clearly that they do not
want any military confrontation in the area," he said.