Philippines: Asean Must Halt China İn Disputed Sea

The Philippines called on its Southeast Asian neighbors Sunday to unite to push against China's reclamation activities in disputed waters of the South China Sea.



In his speech at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario warned that despite all words of caution, China was rapidly advancing its reclamation and "is poised to consolidate de facto control" of the sea.



He expressed concern that if the efforts were allowed to be completed, China would succeed in imposing its "unlawful sovereignty claim over more than 85 percent of the South China Sea."



China claims almost the whole of the South China Sea, which the Philippines calls the West Philippine Sea. Several other Asian nations including ASEAN members such as the Philippines and Malaysia have also laid claim.



They say China is reclaiming land in such areas to create artificial islands on which they could build facilities for military use.



"We had warned that massive reclamation threatened to militarize the region, infringe on the rights of other states and damage the marine environment," del Rosario added, saying the Philippines had begun to draw international attention to the activities.



"We also warned that massive reclamation was clearly intended to change the regional status quo, to advance our northern neighbor's unreasonable, expansive and illegal so-called Nine-Dash Line claim, to undermine the rule of law."



Calling on ASEAN to take action, he warned that doing nothing would "undermine ASEAN's very centrality, solidarity and credibility."



The foreign secretary ended his speech by asking, "is it not time for ASEAN to finally stand up for what is right?"



Last week, the Philippines' presidential office said that a Chinese Coast Guard vessel drove Filipino fishermen away from the disputed Panatag Shoal using water cannon, injuring at least one fisherman.



Philippines military chief-of-staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang has also said warned of increased tensions, not only among claimant countries, but also among those around the world who are using the international sea lanes for trade and commerce. - Zamboanga