Phl pushes triple action plan vs China’s lighthouse

MANILA, Philippines - China’s plan to build lighthouses on some islands in the South China Sea highlights the need to adopt measures in the Philippines’ proposed Triple Action Plan to deescalate and manage tension, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

But the Philippines will not forgo improvements in Philippine-occupied Pagasa Island before the adoption of the 2002 Declaration on Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).

“Our Triple Action Plan that we are proposing in the discussion we plan to have at the AMM (ASEAN Ministerial Meeting) and related meetings, I think, would be able to address that issue,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said in a press briefing.

Jose said the concerns of the Philippines are shared by Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries that also recognize the increasing tensions in the region.

“We should take measures that would deescalate, to manage the tension, to create the atmosphere that would lead to an eventual resolution of the dispute,” he added.

China is reportedly planning to build lighthouses on some islands in the contested waters.

The state-run China News Service (CNS) reported that Beijing planned to build lighthouses on five islands in the South China Sea. At least two of the islands – Drummond Island and Pyramid Rock – are in the Paracels, which are also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan.

“We hope that ASEAN, if we all agree, would be able to convince China. That is our hope – to agree to the cessation of activities that escalate tension,” Jose said.

ASEAN member countries have expressed support for the Triple Action Plan (TAP) that will be presented by the Philippines during the ASEAN meetings in Myanmar as a concrete framework to address the escalating tensions in the South China Sea.

China and ASEAN member countries signed the DOC in 2002 and pledged to exercise restraint and not to conduct activities that might complicate disputes in the region.