China wants continuing dialogue on Spratlys

MANILA, Philippines - China’s new ambassador is pushing for more dialogue on the South China Sea as well as greater cooperation in its disputed areas.

Ambassador Liu Jianchao made the pronouncement during a courtesy call on Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo yesterday.

Liu’s pitch for greater cooperation came on the heels of his country’s filing of a protest on Wednesday against President Arroyo’s signing into law of Republic Act 9522 or the Philippine Baselines Act.

Sources said there was a slight diplomatic faux pas when Chinese diplomats – unaware of the bill’s signing on Wednesday – accompanied Liu to Malacañang for the presentation of his credentials on the same day the bill was signed. Liu was spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs before being named ambassador to the Philippines.

RA 9522 excludes Scarborough Shoal and the Kalayaan group of islands from the country’s territory but classifies these as a “regime of islands” under the Republic of the Philippines.

Under the UN Convention on the Law of the Seas, archipelagic nations like the Philippines must have definitive baseline laws by May 13.

Romulo, for his part, reiterated that the Philippines values its relations with China.

Romulo emphasized that the Philippines strictly adheres to the ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and is firm in its commitment to preserve peace and stability in the region.

Romulo also underscored China’s key role in addressing the current global economic crisis, notably its readiness to provide loans and other assistance to countries in the region.

In 2010, the Philippines and China will celebrate 35 years of bilateral relations.

Liu said his government is always ready to enhance trade relations with the Philippines, particularly in mining and infrastructure.

Liu added that China also wants more cultural and educational exchanges, as well as stronger tourism cooperation with the Philippines.

He thanked the Philippines for hosting the recent visit of 100 school children from the earthquake ravaged Sichuan province. He said the children and their families deeply appreciated the warmth displayed by their Filipino hosts.

He also expressed gratitude for the Philippines’ cooperation on the Taiwan issue.

The DFA said Romulo and Liu had a pleasant, meaningful and productive meeting and that both sides reaffirmed the great importance they attach to Philippine-China bilateral relations.

In protesting Mrs. Arroyo’s signing of the Baseline Act, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said the inclusion of the disputed Kalayaan Islands and the Scarborough Shoal in Philippine territory is “illegal” and “invalid.”

Standing firm

Lawmakers continue to defend the signing of the Baselines Bill amid China’s protest, with Speaker Prospero Nograles saying “we can never compromise the integrity of our national sovereignty.”

In a statement, Nograles said that in signing Republic Act 9522 or the Baselines Law last Wednesday, President Arroyo “just carried out her constitutional mandate to preserve and promote the national interest.”

“Failing to do so would irreversibly prejudice existing Philippine claims over the Kalayaan Island Group or the Spratlys, as well as the Scarborough Shoal,” Nograles said.

The islands are also being claimed in whole or in part by Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan.

“It is imperative that we as a people and as a nation know our position and are willing to stand by it and protect it in accordance with our Constitution and in line with international law and conventions,” he said.

“We are a sovereign nation that respects international law and conventions,” Nograles said.

Cebu Rep. Antonio Cuenco, chairman of the House committee on foreign affairs, said China’s protest was expected and could be resolved in international courts.

“We hail the signing into law of our Baselines Bill. Our sovereignty is paramount. Our country comes first. Any adverse claims can be settled at the UN,” he said. “I don’t think we should be intimidated. We are not intimidated by China.”

Cuenco also ruled out withdrawing or modifying the law. “Of course not. To me and to all Filipinos sovereignty is always paramount. Our country should always come first. We will not backtrack. We have already done the best that we could,” he said.

“We have done everything possible to comply with the UNCLOS provision on the drawing of baselines. We have a deadline and we followed it,” Cuenco said.

“I don’t know what they (China) are complaining about. I don’t see any point in their complaint because we only reiterated our claim over those islands by designating them as regime of islands,” Cuenco pointed out.

“That’s allowed under Article 121 of UNCLOS. Regime of islands practically means nothing,” he pointed out.

“The protest of China, that’s to be expected because they’ve always been jittery and they’re paranoid regarding the claims of other countries in the South China Sea,” he said.

“They (China) don’t own the South China Sea, they’re just claiming ownership. Their claim remains merely a claim. They do not have title to it in the same way we don’t have title to it. The same thing with Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan,” Cuenco stressed. With Delon Porcalla