Phl won’t recognize China air restrictions

The Philippines will not recognize restrictions on air and sea travel set by China in the West Philippine Sea, President Aquino said yesterday.

“We will still fly the routes that we fly based on international law and the various conventions, agreements that have been entered into through various decades,” Aquino told reporters in an ambush interview after inspecting the Marikina Elementary School in preparation for the opening of classes in June.

He said the country is ready to defend its territorial rights even not through military means.

But he expressed confidence that China would seriously

consider enflaming the situation in the West Philippine Sea by continuously trampling on the rights of its smaller neighbors.

“Maybe we should not think about getting singled out by one country or another because there is no ADIZ (Air Defense Identification Zone) imposed yet in the route of our carriers, those that normally fly these routes,” he said.

The President also said he does not want to get ahead of a problem that is not yet existing, apparently referring to ADIZ.

“And maybe we can add that the disparity in force or available military force between the two countries – China and ourselves – is very clear. Will they not take that into consideration, especially if they want to maintain a positive image with the rest of the world?” Aquino said.

The President said an abuse in the exercise of power by a big country would only undermine global trade.

Asked if China was enforcing a de facto ADIZ over the West Philippine Sea with its ordering a United States plane last week to leave a Chinese “military territory,” Aquino said everyone is aware that Beijing has been asserting its “indisputable sovereignty” over the area.

“They have been saying (that) for the longest time, that’s why we have the two tracks: arbitration and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). And again, going back, we will still exercise our rights over our exclusive economic zone,” the President said.

“At the same time, we should be responsible, we have maritime awareness, we know what’s happening, and we have a calculated response to all of these incidents that are happening,” the President said. “Bottom line is, it has to be clear, we will defend our rights to the best of our abilities.”

He also said the US and the Philippines were assisting each other on maritime domain awareness but declined to give details.

“Maybe even in basketball the different coaches do not show their playbook,” Aquino said.

The President also reiterated an earlier pronouncement against convening the National Security Council at this time, saying Cabinet security and legal clusters were doing just fine.

“We have done whatever they suggested. We did invite... Yes, we convened the National Security Council, if I remember correctly, (former) president (Joseph) Estrada and (former) president (Fidel) Ramos were present when we were discussing this issue,” Aquino said.

When the arbitration case was filed before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, the President said “I am very clear in my memory” that then Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Speaker Jose Feliciano Belmonte Jr. were also present during the discussion.

The President explained it was a modified NSC meeting, with members of the judiciary also invited for their inputs.

But Aquino said the members of the judiciary turned down the invitation saying the issue might end up for review by any one of them.

“So we respect that but... all of these decisions, although I am supposed to be the main architect for foreign policy, we have tried to get as many voices from the different branches of government to have different perspectives and come up with the best solution to this problem,” Aquino said.

Closed-door talks

Meanwhile, the House foreign affairs committee is scheduled to hold a closed-door hearing today on the West Philippine Sea issue.

Bayan Muna Representatives Carlos Zarate and Neri Colmenares said they would confront officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of National Defense during the hearing “on efforts to protect Philippine interests against China’s aggressive actions” in the contested territories.

“China has already reclaimed at least seven reefs such as Panganiban ( Mischief), Mabini (Johnson South), Gavin (Gaven), Calderon (Cuarteron), Hughes (Kennan), Malvar (Eldad), and Kagitingan (Fiery Cross), which are clearly within Philippine territory and exclusive economic zone,” they said.

However, they said the government has not done anything to stop Chinese activities other than calling the attention of the international community and the media to them.

They added that the Philippines could not rely on the US to stop the reclamations, because the US is interested only in ensuring freedom of navigation in the West Philippine Sea.

“As long as the interest of the US is satisfied, it will just mouth motherhood statements on defending the Philippines but will not act to counter China,” the lawmakers said. “What we need now is to stand on our own and broaden our ranks through a broad alliance to protect Philippine interests against China’s aggressive actions.”

To demonstrate the country’s resolve to protect its interests, Zarate and Colmenares suggested that the government deploy more troops to the Kalayaan group of islands, send more ships to the disputed territories and improve the airstrip on Pagasa Island.

“As it is China’s expansionist policy based on its nine-dash line theory is without legal, historical and moral basis. Every Filipino here or abroad should defend our territory and exclusive economic zones and President Aquino should fortify our positions in the area to counter China’s aggressive acts,” the two said.