RP officials urge US, China to resolve dispute

Senior Philippine officials urged China and the United States yesterday to resolve their dispute over the loss of a Chinese pilot in a collision with a US spy plane so as to avoid escalating regional tensions.

National Security Adviser Roilo Golez said Manila was closely following the six day-old standoff over the crew of the damaged US surveillance aircraft, who were detained after it made an emergency landing on the island of Hainan.

The Chinese fighter pilot involved in the incident is missing after bailing out of his jet.

Golez said he was hoping the American crew members be returned quickly and that the matter be settled peacefully. Washington wants both the plane and the 24 crew members to be turned over to US authorities.

"We don’t want any tension. The two countries had good relations and this matter is the cause of tension which affects everybody," Golez said in an interview with radio station dzXL.

"I’m praying for a smooth and harmonious resolution of this stand-off in order to promote regional stability and security," he added.

Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes said the Philippines had cordial relations with both countries and hoped the issue would be resolved quickly and diplomatically. Manila has a mutual defense treaty with Washington.

"We will, of course, maintain very friendly, cordial relations with all countries, both the United States and China," he said.

Reyes said Manila and Beijing should be able to avoid standoffs between themselves "because the channels of communication – diplomatic and political – between the Philippines and China are open."

Golez said senior Philippine and Chinese officials had met in Manila this week to discuss territorial disputes in the South China Sea. He and Chinese foreign ministry director general Fu Ying agreed they would contact each other by telephone or electronic mail if any similar incidents occur, Golez said.

Japan, which hosts American bases, said it wants an "appropriate" and "acceptable" settlement of the dispute. Japan depends on oil imports which pass through South China Sea lanes, possible center of a shooting war.

Indonesia was also reportedly worried it might get dragged into the conflict because it hosts a number of US bases.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) suggested yesterday that the US and China form a joint investigation panel to look into the mid-air collision in the South China Sea to stave off a Cold War between the two superpowers.

A ranking DFA official, who asked not to be named, said an apology from the US could defuse the tension, but this would be tantamount to an admission of a mistake that the American government "is not ready to assume."

"There should be a joint team from both sides so there will be a definitive statement of what happened," the official noted.

Washington only sent its regrets but categorically ruled out apologizing for the incident. – Paolo Romero, Aurea Calica