China may grab Panatag shoal next – ambassador

BY MICHAEL JOE T. DELIZO

THE

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Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.

Citing a report from US Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson, Cuisia said a Chinese survey ship was spotted on the shoal, which the Philippines also calls Bajo de Masinloc, a few weeks ago in what could be a prelude to Beijing’s attempt to turn the shoal

China has already turned seven reefs into new islets as it insists its historical claim over nearly the entire West Philippine Sea.

Cuisia said China’s island-making spree “will be very provocative” and “will further escalate the ten-

The US and China are set to have a strategic bilateral meeting in early June and this could be an opportunity for Washington to convince China not to proceed with the reclamation activities, the envoy added.

Cuisia said he was part of the talks when the US State department brokered a deal for the Philippines and China to simultaneously withdraw from Scarborough shoal to deescalate the tension in 2012 when Philippine and Chinese vessels had a face-off.

“I think we were successful in doing that but the problem is precisely the Chinese vessel did not leave that area anymore after that,” the ambassador noted.