China demands PH to withdraw from 鈥榠llegally seized鈥� islands

By: Matikas Santos - 10 years ago

The BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal. 蜜桃工作室 FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines 鈥� China responded to the Philippines鈥� call for a moratorium on all activities in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) by demanding the Philippines to withdraw all its facilities and personnel on islands it occupies in the Spratly Islands.

鈥淲e demand the Philippines to withdraw all its facilities and personnel on islands illegally seized from China,鈥� Chinese Foreign Minister Hua听Chunying听said in a press conference on Monday, a transcript of which was posted on the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

鈥淪ince the 1970s, the Philippines has illegally and forcefully occupied parts of China鈥檚听Nansha听Islands (Spratly Islands) including the听Zhongye听Island (Pag-asa听Island), in violation of the United Nations Charter and principles of international law,鈥� she said.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario on Monday said that he was thinking of proposing a freeze on all activities in the South China Sea to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in order to ease tensions.

China was recently found to be conducting reclamation activities in at least five reefs turning them into artificial islands.

Hua insisted that there are no issues between听Asean听and China and reiterated that China is willing to work with听Asean听member countries in implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).

鈥淚ssues on the sovereignty over islands and reefs of the听Nansha听Islands are not the ones between China and听Asean,鈥� she said.

鈥淭here is consensus between China and听Asean听on fully and effectively implementing the DOC and negotiating a code of conduct in the South China Sea under that framework. We stand ready to work with relevant countries, strictly follow the DOC and jointly safeguard peace and stability of the South China Sea,鈥� Hua said.

She accused the Philippines of taking provocative actions and making irresponsible remarks against China.

鈥淟ast December, the Philippines鈥� Defense Ministry announced that they would invest large sums of money to upgrade the airstrips and naval facilities on the听Zhongye听Island. In January this year, the Philippines鈥� military officials again announced their plans to build a world-class airport on the so-called听Kalayaan听Island,鈥� Hua said.

鈥淭he Philippine side, on the one hand, intentionally takes provocative actions while on the other hand makes irresponsible remarks on China鈥檚 legitimate actions which are within China鈥檚 sovereignty. That is unjustifiable,鈥� she said.

Philippines and China are locked in a maritime dispute over the West Philippines Sea. An arbitration case before the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (Itlos) is ongoing despite China鈥檚 refusal to participate.