China on High Alert Over Shoal
Manila Bulletin 10 hours ago
Philippines stops protest trip to disputed shoal
Philippine President Benigno Aquino convinced protesters to abort plans to sail Friday to a disputed South China Sea shoal as he sought ways to resolve a tense stand-off with China.
MANILA, Philippines - A website that claims to be the Chinese government's official English-language web portal on Friday said China remains on "high alert" over Huangyan Island (Panatag Shoal) after getting wind of former Philippine Marine Capt. Nicanor Faeldon's plan to go there.
"China will remain on high alert over Huangyan Island after a group of Filipinos reportedly planned to sail to the island in the South China Sea, a spokesman said on Friday," read the news item on english.gov.cn.
The same report quoted Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei as stressing that Huangyan Island "is part of China's territory" even as media reports claimed that Faeldon intended to travel to the shoal, also named by Philippine authorities as Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal, and plant a Philippine flag.
"We have taken note of the reports you have mentioned," Hong said, adding that the Chinese side will "remain on high alert over the island to prevent any provocative behavior."
A Manila Bulletin team sent to the Masinloc pier in Zambales on Friday was among the handful of local and foreign media that was supposed to cover Faeldon's "patriotic voyage" to Panatag until a last minute call from President Benigno "Noynoy" S. Aquino III barred him from leaving.
"We also hope that the Philippine side will stop making irresponsible remarks and inciting radical behaviors," Hong was also quoted as saying.
He also urged the Philippines to "come back to the right track of a diplomatic solution" to the ongoing dispute over the sovereignty of Huangyan Island and "send clear and consistent messages" on the matter.
Faeldon told reporters in Masinloc that President Aquino requested for the postponement of his planned voyage so as not to derail "serious negotiations" being carried out by Filipino representatives in China over the dispute.
Panatag or Scarborough Shoal lies 124 nautical miles off the coast of Zambales, well within the Philippines' 200-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The standoff between the Philippines and China began last April 10 when Philippine Navy flagship BRP Gregorio del Pilar unsuccessfully tried to arrest occupants of eight Chinese fishing boats poaching in the area.
China claims "historical sovereignty" over the entire South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) including the waters up to the coasts of other countries.
'Over-reacting'
Kit Guerrero, Faeldon's spokesperson, in an interview yesterday suggested that the Chinese government is "over-reacting".
"The voyage never took place because the President asked Nick not to push through. It seems the Chinese government is over-reacting.
"The intention was never to provoke or agitate, but to support the country's position in a peaceful and unarmed way," Guerrero said.
He clarified that even if the so-called "patriotic voyage" went on as scheduled there was no plan to raise a Philippine flag on Scarborough. "It is only to show our civilian presence there, which is our right as citizens within our Philippine territory."
At least 11 fishermen from Masinloc and Faeldon's native province of Batanes were supposed to take part in the trip. It appeared that the group had enough provisions for up to three days.
Faeldon has served time in prison and was discharged from the Philippine Marines for his part in a 2003 coup attempt, but was granted amnesty last year.
