MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippines filed a diplomatic protest
and demanded an explanation from China on Friday after its ship
searching for oil near a disputed area of the South China Sea complained
of being harassed by two Chinese patrol boats.
President Benigno Aquino III said the protest was handed to the Chinese Embassy's charge d'affaires.
Embassy spokesman Ethan Sun earlier reiterated his
country's claim to the Spratly Islands and adjacent waters, but said
Beijing was committed to maintaining peace and stability in the area and
resolving disputes through peaceful negotiations.
Aquino said he was sending to Beijing a Philippine
government expert on the Spratlys — a strategic archipelago straddling
busy sea lanes — to discuss the matter with Chinese officials.
At the same time, the president ordered a coast guard
ship to the area "to ensure that our rights are protected by making sure
that this survey ship granted authority by our government will finish
its job."
Foreign Secretary Alberto del Rosario told a news
conference that the Philippine survey ship reported the encounter
Wednesday with two Chinese vessels and as a result had to change course.
The incident occurred at Reed Bank near the Spratly Islands, which are
claimed in part or whole by China, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam and
the Philippines.
"We're in conversation with our Chinese friends and we
are seeking an explanation from them," del Rosario added.
Reed Bank — about 124 miles (200 kilometers) west of
the Philippine province of Palawan — "is our territory," he said.
The Philippine military commander in the area, Lt.
Gen. Juancho Sabban, said he deployed two warplanes Wednesday after oil
explorers on the survey ship contracted by the Philippine Department of
Energy complained of harassment. When the planes reached the area, the
Chinese vessels had left, he said.
A Philippine military official said the Chinese boats
maneuvered close to the Philippine ship at least twice, apparently
threatening to ram it but then turning away. No shots were fired, he
said.
A Philippine navy patrol ship has been deployed to
secure the oil exploration, which will resume, said the official, who
spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to
the media.
The Spratlys have rich fishing grounds and are
believed to sit atop vast oil and gas deposits. They also straddle busy
sea lanes that are a crucial conduit for oil and other resources fueling
China's fast-expanding economy and those of other Asian nations. They
have long been regarded as a potential flash point for conflict in Asia.
Meanwhile, Vietnam protested Chinese military drills
in the Spratlys last week, calling them a violation of its sovereignty,
Vietnam's Foreign Ministry said in a statement Thursday.
The ministry said its representatives met with Chinese Embassy officials to lodge a protest.
موضوع: Philippines to China: Explain ship incident 
2011-03-06, 9:00 am
