China's envoy Zhao Jianhua claims ICC suit vs Xi Jinping won’t prosper

MANILA, Philippines — China’s top diplomat in the Philippines expressed belief yesterday the complaint against Chinese President Xi Jinping before the International Criminal Court (ICC) will not prosper.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate,” Ambassador Zhao Jianhua said. “We think it’s a kind of political action viciously attacking Chinese leadership.

“We don’t think it is a proper action that is based on facts. It’s fabrication and also a misuse of the mandate of the ICC,” Zhao told reporters.

Zhao said President Duterte and the department concerned “expressed clearly to the Chinese side the Philippine government has no role in it.” 

But the former government officials who filed the case against Xi before the ICC are optimistic in another “David and Goliath” case to “discipline” the Chinese leader and demand accountably for destroying marine resources in the South China Sea.

Former ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said Xi committed the crime within Philippine territory and the communication was filed at a time the Philippines was still a state party to the Rome Statute, founding treaty of the ICC.

Former foreign affairs secretary Albert del Rosario said their primary objective is to improve the lives of Filipino fishermen in the South China Sea.

Protests filed

As this developed, Malacañang said yesterday the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has protested the presence of Chinese ships near the Philippine-occupied Pag-asa island in the West Philippine Sea.

Previous reports said hundreds of Chinese vessels have been circling Pag-asa, the largest of nine Philippine-controlled islets in the disputed Spratlys. 

Other islets under Philippine control are Ayungin Shoal, Lawak Island, Parola Island, Patag Island, Kota Island, Rizal Reef, Likas Island and Panata Island. 

Lt. Col. Elpidio Factor of the Palawan-based Armed Forces Western Command (WESCOM) was quoted as saying that the ships are considered as Chinese maritime militia and are intended to maintain China’s presence in the area. 

“I understand we have already issued a diplomatic protest per the Western Command. The DFA has already made a diplomatic protest over it,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a press briefing. 

Panelo could not say when the protest was filed. The DFA has yet to confirm Panelo’s statement as of yesterday. 

While he claimed that the government is concerned about recent developments in the West Philippine Sea, Panelo said a media report about the presence of Chinese ships near Pag-asa is “exaggerated.” 

Citing a message from WESCOM chief Vice Admiral Rene Medina, Panelo said the report distorted the total number of Chinese fishing vessels monitored in Pag-asa. The report also used an “alarming statement” that the ships “have been circling Pag-asa Island,” the spokesman added. 

“It (report) unnecessarily raises some serious alarm. They are not circling (the island). They are just on standby, perhaps monitoring,” he said.

Citing Medina, Panelo said the total number of Chinese ships in the area was not 617 as reported previously. The highest number of China maritime militia vessels sighted was 87 on Feb. 10, the spokesman said. 

“The 617 Chinese fishing vessels presented in the Powerpoint is supposed to indicate the sum of Chinese fishing vessels for the first quarter of 2019 monitored on a daily basis and not the total number of Chinese fishing vessels present in the Pag-asa island,” Medina’s text message shared by Panelo read. 

‘China to cooperate with Philippines’

Zhao said Beijing is ready to cooperate with the Philippines to verify the reports about the presence of Chinese vessels in Pag-asa. 

“As for what is actually happening we are there, we are cooperating with the Filipino side to verify if there is any truth to that kind of report,” Zhao told reporters before a closed door meeting with Panelo at Malacañang.

“I know there are fishermen from both sides, but whether the number is 600, whether they are surrounding the islands that you have people there, it is really up to further investigation and verification,” he added. 

Asked if the Chinese ships were operated by militia, the envoy replied: “So far as I know they are fishermen.”

“As far as I know, they are not armed at all. Try to contact with your military, (Defense) Secretary (Delfin) Lorenzana to verify certain news because I think that area is closely monitored also by your people,” he added. 

Zhao said there is no need to worry about a conflict erupting over disputed areas because the two countries are handling the issue through diplomatic channels.

Panelo also assured the public that the Philippines would file a diplomatic protest if Chinese ships are driving away Filipino fishermen in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal off Zambales. 

The area, which is well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, has been occupied by China since 2012. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources recently urged Filipino fishermen to refrain from going to Panatag Shoal “for the meantime.”  – With Michael Punongbayan