Freedom of Navigation in South China Sea - West Philippines Sea is Under Threat

The Philippines foreign affairs secretary warned freedom of navigation in the South China Sea faces a potential threat, if China continues to claim ownership of the entire sea.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton talks with Philippine's Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario prior to the start of Retreat Session of East Asia Summit Consultation in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia, July 22, 2011

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario brought up the country’s grievance over what it calls China’s intrusions during a forum at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations security forum in Bali, Indonesia.  Del Rosario highlighted at least seven run-ins involving Chinese vessels in what he says are Philippine waters.

The Philippines has officially complained to China over the matter, but China said there were no intrusions because it holds sovereignty over the entire sea, based on a map from the early 20th century that delineates the sea in nine broken dashes.  Del Rosario called this a “baseless” claim and said the Philippines’ sovereign rights “could be denigrated.”

Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez reiterated del Rosario’s assertion about territories in what the country now calls the West Philippine Sea.

“The nine-dash line could not be possible because the whole area is not actually disputed.  It is only the specific features in the West Philippine Sea that are disputed,” he said.

China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei are squabbling over parts or all of the South China Sea and some of its “features” - or tiny islands - which are part of the Spratly group of islands.  These are believed to hold significant amounts of natural gas and oil deposits.  Furthermore, the body of water is home to one of the world’s busiest sea lanes, which means key stake-holders like the United States have a vested interest in keeping them open and free of conflicts.

In his statement at the security forum, del Rosario said freedom of navigation could be under threat if China continues to ignore complaints.

The Philippines has been referring to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as its defense against China.  The convention grants nations a 200 nautical mile (more than 300 kilometers) exclusive economic zone beyond their coastlines.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Hernandez says del Rosario continues to push a proposal that promotes development and cooperation in the disputed territories.

“And the second option is for the claimants to consider subjecting the nine-dash line to validation in accordance with UNCLOS,” he said.

Last week, Southeast Asian and Chinese officials meeting in Indonesia agreed on a set of non-binding guidelines for implementing the 2002 Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

That could eventually lead to a binding code of conduct for handling disputes in the region. A Chinese Foreign Ministry official at the ASEAN meeting said it was an “important milestone” for cooperation. But the Philippines says the agreement has no enforcement mechanism.

Despite the ongoing differences, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton commended both sides for forging the first step.

On Saturday, a high ranking U.S. official who attended the forum told reporters almost all of the claimants’ grievances were “exaggerated.”  But the official did not elaborate.

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The Philippines joins worldwide in condemning of Norway twin attacks

The Philippines on Saturday (July 23, 2011) joined governments worldwide in condemning the attacks that claimed 91 lives in Norway, home to 16,000 Filipinos and peace talks with the Asian country’s Maoist rebels.

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario has been told there were no known Filipino victims of the gun and bomb attacks on Friday, according to Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson Raul Hernandez.

“The secretary of Foreign Affairs states the Philippines deplores the tragic twin attacks in Norway and extends his condolences to the Norwegian government and people,” Hernandez told Agence France Presse.

“As of this time, initial report from our embassy in Oslo … states there are no Filipinos adversely affected by the recent bombing and shooting incidents,” Hernandez added.

Del Rosario is attending a regional security meeting in Indonesia.

Added sadness

“We sympathize with the families of (those) who perished in the attack and we would like to send our sympathies to them,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said on state-run radio dzRB.

“There is an added sadness … because they are the third-party facilitator in our peace talks,” Valte said.

Oslo has been hosting peace talks this year between the Philippine government and Maoist rebels waging a deadly, 42-year-old armed rebellion in the Southeast Asian nation.

Valte said Filipinos may check on their loved ones in Norway through the DFA hotline, 834-4444.

Norway Attacks Put Spotlight on Rise of Right-Wing Sentiment in Europe

The attacks in Oslo on Friday have riveted new attention on right-wing extremists not just in Norway but across Europe, where opposition to Muslim immigrants, globalization, the power of the European Union and the drive toward multiculturalism has proven a potent political force and, in a few cases, a spur to violence

The success of populist parties appealing to a sense of lost national identity has brought criticism of minorities, immigrants and in particular Muslims out of the beer halls and Internet chat rooms and into mainstream politics. While the parties themselves generally do not condone violence, some experts say a climate of hatred in the political discourse has encouraged violent individuals.

“I’m not surprised when things like the bombing in Norway happen, because you will always find people who feel more radical means are necessary,” said Joerg Forbrig, an analyst at the German Marshall Fund in Berlin who has studied far-right issues in Europe. “It literally is something that can happen in a number of places and there are broader problems behind it.”

Last November a Swedish man was arrested in the southern city of Malmö in connection with more than a dozen unsolved shootings of immigrants, including one fatality. The shootings, nine of which took place between June and October 2010, appeared to be the work of an isolated individual. More broadly in Sweden, though, the far-right Sweden Democrats experienced new success at the polls. The party entered Parliament for the first time after winning 5.7 percent of the vote in the general election last September.

The bombing and shootings in Oslo also have served as a wake-up call for security services in Europe and the United States that in recent years have become so focused on Islamic terrorists that they may have underestimated the threat of domestic radicals, including those upset by what they see as the influence of Islam.

The success of populist parties appealing to a sense of lost national identity has brought criticism of minorities, immigrants and in particular Muslims out of the beer halls and Internet chat rooms and into mainstream politics. While the parties themselves generally do not condone violence, some experts say a climate of hatred in the political discourse has encouraged violent individuals.

“I’m not surprised when things like the bombing in Norway happen, because you will always find people who feel more radical means are necessary,” said Joerg Forbrig, an analyst at the German Marshall Fund in Berlin who has studied far-right issues in Europe. “It literally is something that can happen in a number of places and there are broader problems behind it.”

Last November a Swedish man was arrested in the southern city of Malmö in connection with more than a dozen unsolved shootings of immigrants, including one fatality. The shootings, nine of which took place between June and October 2010, appeared to be the work of an isolated individual. More broadly in Sweden, though, the far-right Sweden Democrats experienced new success at the polls. The party entered Parliament for the first time after winning 5.7 percent of the vote in the general election last September.

The bombing and shootings in Oslo also have served as a wake-up call for security services in Europe and the United States that in recent years have become so focused on Islamic terrorists that they may have underestimated the threat of domestic radicals, including those upset by what they see as the influence of Islam.

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$1.5 billion natural gas project expansion in Malampaya - PNOC Philippines

The Philippines will forge a deal with consortium partners next month to develop the $1.5 billion second and third phases of the Malampaya natural gas project to increase production at the gas field southwest of the Philippines.

The government, through state-run PNOC-Exploration Corp (PNOC-EC), holds a 10 percent stake in the Malampaya project. The rest is owned equally by Shell Philippines Exploration B.V., a unit of Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) and Chevron Malampaya LLC, a unit of the U.S. energy firm.

"We have formed an inter-agency team to get the permits," Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras told reporters. "We are also asking PNOC-EC to get ready for its share of investments."

He said the second phase of the project would likely begin early next year and was expected to be completed in four years.

Malampaya supplies gas to power plant operators First Gas Power Corp, a unit of First Gen Corp, and San Miguel Energy Corp, a unit of conglomerate San Miguel Corporation

The project currently supplies enough gas to generate up to 2,700 megawatts of power a day, providing more than 30 percent of the power needs of the country's main island of Luzon.

Energy department officials previously said the Malampaya consortium was planning to increase gas sales by enough to generate an additional 300 megawatts. The group has committed to supply gas to power producers for a period of more than 20 years.

The consortium had spent about $1.2 billion to develop the first phase of the project between 2002 and 2006. At that time, the project was the largest by any foreign investor in the country.

Energy Secretary Rene Almendras said Friday that the government is set to sign deal to expand production capacity at the Malampaya natural gas project offshore the central Philippines.

The expansion will entail an additional investment of $1.5 billion by the consortium that operates the gas field, Almendras told reporters.

The expansion comprises a new platform at an estimated cost of $1 billion that has facilities to inject pressure into the gas reservoir to boost output and a horizontal drill at a cost of $500 million to determine the extent of reserves at the nearby Camago oil field.

The consortium is led by Shell Philippines Exploration and Chevron Philippines, which each own a 45% stake in the Malampaya project. State-owned PNOC Exploration Corp. (PEC.PH) owns the remaining 10%.

The consortium has the right to operate the project until 2026. Almendras said the agreement may be extended in consideration of the new investments.

The Malampaya field contains an estimated 2.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 85 million barrels of condensate--gasoil, naphtha, and other relatively light hydrocarbons--some 3,000 meters below sea level, according to the consortium's website.

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