Our Dispute with China

A few days ago, I sat in a forum in Manila discussing our territorial dispute with China that is now in the news. I got some basic info that I wish to share, given that this may put the Philippines in a collision course with giant China. Recently, China issued its own map of the globe called “NINE DASH LINE” that serves notice to the world that these territories in the South China Sea west of the Philippines belong to China. We countered by calling it the “West Philippine Sea.”

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TWO AREAS—There are two disputed areas: first, the “Scarborough Shoals” in Zambales province where it’s only us and China in dispute. Second, the one off Palawan called the “Spratlys or Kalayaan Island Group” where the claim involves other countries like Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei.

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“SCARBOROUGH”—“Scarborough Shoals” in Zambales province is only a rock jutting out of the sea and part of Masinloc municipality. It’s the traditional fishing grounds of Masinloc fishermen but recently, they were shooed away from the area by Chinese coast guard vessels using water cannons. During the time of the US bases in the 1990s it was used as a target practice area by the American forces during war drills.

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“SPRATLY’S”—Further down south, around 100 miles away from Palawan, the Spratly’s group of islands called “Kalayaan Islands,” include around 50 islands or reefs or areas and there are several claimants. The Philippines claims 5 islets, 2 cays and 2 reefs or a total of 9 features. China has 7 areas while Vietnam has 22. Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei also have their own islets or areas claimed.

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MISCHIEFS—One of our 9 claimed islets “Mischief Reef” in the Kalayaan Islands, near Palawan, is where China started doing some “mischiefs” in 1995 by putting up “fishermen’s structures.” To counter China’s intrusion, the AFP intentionally “beached” our old “Sierra Madre” naval ship in the waters nearby that became the home-base of our few soldiers guarding the area. Today, Chinese massive dredging, reclamation and construction are ongoing. The area of what was before only 1,900 square meters is now more than three (3) hectares in size and still growing. It is being developed as a military installation, with an airport and reinforced garrison-looking buildings.

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RECOURSE—Feeling helpless and unable to stop these Chinese “mischiefs” and seeking redress, the Philippines filed in January 2013 a “statement of claim” before a United Nations agency but China “rejected” the claim and refused to recognize and participate in the process. It is still pending before an “ad hoc tribunal” based in the Hague with 5 member-nations sitting as a tribunal.

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IMPLICATIONS—Aside from being a Philippine-China territorial dispute, the whole world will have to sit up and take action because this is now also developing into a “maritime” issue where China, with its constructions, may claim control over the international sea lanes where the world’s economic logistic system passes. Let’s watch the developments.