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.