RP defends destruction of markers in Spratlys

RP defends destruction of markers in Spratlys

MANILA (Agencies): Senior Philippine officials defended yesterday the destruction of Chinese markers on a shoal claimed by Manila in the disputed Spratly islands and said they would continue removing them despite a sharp rebuke from Beijing.

"They will continue to do what they are doing, we continue to do what we are doing," Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon told journalists.

"We claim an area and of course if you see foreign markers on your garden then you remove it," said Siazon, adding that China can also "remove foreign makers in what they claim to be their garden."

"It's normal operations. Nothing extraordinary. We will continue to do what we are doing," Siazon added.

China and the Philippines are among six nations which claim the Spratlys in whole or in part, and the dispute has led to rising tensions between Beijing and Manila.

However, Siazon and military chief Gen. Arnulfo Acedera both said they were confident the latest incident would be settled diplomatically.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Tang Guoqiang condemned Thursday the destruction of the markers on Sabina shoal last month as a "serious violation of Chinese sovereignty."

"China has undisputed sovereignty over the Spratly archipelago and the surrounding waters," he said -- a claim disputed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Last month Philippine troops blasted concrete slabs and pulled up two of three buoys put up by the Chinese on Sabina Shoal, about 75 nautical miles west of the Philippine island of Palawan.

"We hope the Philippines will respect the memorandum of understanding signed by leaders from both sides and not take acts that either damage the development of bilateral relations or disturb regional peace and stability," Tang said in Beijing

He was apparently referring to a "code of conduct" signed by the two sides in 1995 which called on them to refrain from provocative actions in the Spratlys.

Diplomatic ties frayed by the Chinese occupation of Philippine-claimed Mischief Reef in 1995 were bolstered by the code and by a visit from Chinese President Jiang Zemin to Manila in November 1996.

But tension flared again in mid-June despite diplomatic efforts to keep the issue in the background, after the Philippines said it had monitored two Chinese navy ships near Mischief Reef on June 22.

Philippine Defense Secretary Renato de Villa said last week that Hong Kong's return to China on July 1 after 156 years as a British colony would help improve Asian security because it would integrate Beijing more economically into the region.

"I think what should take place is that there should be more dialog on this matter. Such actions like the demolition of markers would only worsen the situation," Avila said.