Philippine Protests Chinas’ illegal action – Calls for international sanction

Protesters in the Philippines demonstrate outside the Chinese Consulate in Manila. In the latest source of tensions between China and the Philippines, Chinese authorities announced plans to search ships that sail through a disputed territory the South China Sea. (Bullit Marquez/Associated Press)

Philippines protests China's threat to search ships

The Philippines on Saturday denounced Chinese plans to search ships sailing through what Beijing says is its territory in the South China Sea in the latest irritant between the countries.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the plans should be condemned by the international community because they violate maritime domains of countries in the region and impede freedom of navigation.

Chinese state media announced the plans, saying southern Hainan province, which Beijing says administers the South China Sea, had approved laws giving its police the right to search vessels that pass through the waters.

Last week the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan and India protested a map on a new Chinese passport that depicts disputed areas as belonging to China.

China's action blasted as 'illegal'

The Philippine statement said it wants Beijing to "immediately clarify its reported plans to interdict ships that enter what it considers its territory in the South China Sea."

It said Manila was concerned that ships entering waters claimed by China, which is "virtually the entire South China Sea … can be boarded, inspected, detained, confiscated, immobilized and expelled, among other punitive actions."

China's action will be "illegal and will validate the continuous and repeated pronouncements by the Philippines that China's claim of indisputable sovereignty over virtually the entire South China Sea is not only an excessive claim but a threat to all countries," the statement said.

The maritime territorial disputes include the Spratly Islands over which China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have conflicting claims. The Spratlys chain is believed to sit atop rich oil and gas reserves and straddles one of the world's busiest sea lanes. (http://is.gd/tYZlTi)

CBC News 

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Philippine navy rescues 100 sea turtles from Chinese poachers in Palawan

PUERTO PRINCESA, Philippines - Philippine sailors rescued more than a hundred sea turtles from poachers but Chinese nationals who were allegedly buying the endangered animals escaped, the navy said Friday (November 30, 2012).

At least 123 turtles were recovered from three fishpens off the western island of Balabac on Tuesday as part of a campaign against such illegal activities, the navy statement said.

"At least six Chinese nationals were sighted fleeing the area using a speed boat when the raiding party arrived in the area," regional naval chief Commander Rostum Joseph Pena was quoted as saying.

It took two days to remove all the turtles from the fishpens and six of them were found to be dead, he said.

Residents have reported that Chinese financiers were paying local people to gather the turtles for 5,000 pesos (US$120) each, so they could be shipped abroad, the navy commander said.

The turtles were released in a marine reserve, the navy said.

Sea turtles are protected under Philippine law and catching them is punishable by at least 12 years in jail.

Chinese poaching in Philippine waters has become a thorny issue in recent months.

In April, Philippine authorities tried to arrest Chinese fishermen taking sea turtles and other protected species from Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, triggering a standoff with Chinese ships that still continues.

China and the Philippines, along with Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam, have overlapping claims in the South China Sea, which includes major shipping lanes and is believed to be rich in mineral and oil resources. (http://is.gd/mYSnjN)

Asiaone 

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China police prepares to takeover Philippine Naval Ships patrolling in West Philippines Sea

China plans to board Philippine ships

THE commander of the military's Western Command yesterday protested a reported plan of China to board and search ships that will enter its claimed territories in the South China Sea or West Philippine Sea.

"That's a violation of the international passage," said Lt. Gen. Juancho Sabban, commander of Wescom which is in charge of protecting the country's interest in the disputed area.

"That's too much. While we are exerting all peaceful means (to solve the territorial dispute), that is what they are doing," he also said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs declined to comment.

"We need to get more information on that. There are details that we need to find out before we could comment on that," said DFA Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez.

"If it is true, it will pose a concern to the Philippines and the international community," he also said.

He said media should ask the Chinese Foreign Ministry or the Chinese embassy.

The Chinese Embassy usually does not immediately answer questions. If it does, it comes in the form of a statement that is issued days later.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the Chinese national government should be asked if the position of the Hainan provincial government is the position of Chinese national leadership.

"Instead of asking the Philippine government to comment on a position taken by a local Chinese government official, why doesn't the press ask the Chinese Foreign Ministry or the Chinese Embassy here and confirm if that is also the position they are adopting?" Lacierda said, asking the same question asked by Hernandez.

The China Daily yesterday said that starting January 1, police in Hainan will board and search ships that China considers its territorial waters in the South China Sea, seize control of the ships and order them to change course or stop sailing. Hainan administers China's claims to the islets and atolls in the South China Sea.

China is claiming the whole Spratly Islands, a chain of islands and islets believed in the South China Sea, which is believed rich in oil and minerals deposits. The Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam are claiming parts of the islands and have stationed their troops.

Philippine troops are occupying nine islands including Pag-asa which is about 200 nautical miles of Puerto Princesa City.

Sabban, asked how the military would secure ships that may pass the territorial waters being claimed by China, said, "We have regular patrols (there). We have the Navy and the Coast Guard in the area."

Last week, Sabban visited the troops stationed at the nine Philippine-occupied areas in the Spratlys. It took Sabban four days to complete the visit of the nine islands, the first time for any Wescom commander.

He told the troops "to keep our flag flying mighty. (http://is.gd/8EiHIl)

Malaya

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