BBC:
China says Philippines ignored South China Sea proposal as tensions rise
Getty Tensions in the shoals have escalated in recent months, with Chinese and Philippine vessels colliding
China says the Philippines ignored proposals it put forward to "manage" their dispute in the South China Sea.
An unnamed senior Chinese official told news outlet the Manila Times that the deal was "met with inaction by the Marcos administration".
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said they did not reject the deal, but said it stood on a "questionable" premise.
The South China Sea is at the centre of a territorial dispute between China, the Philippines and other countries.
But tensions between Manila and Beijing have sharply escalated in recent months. At the heart of it is a decaying ship on Second Thomas Shoal that the Philippines have purposely marooned to reinforce its claim in the shoal.
Routine missions to bring food and essentials to a handful of Filipino soldiers on the ship named Sierra Madre has resulted in encounters between the Philippine Coast Guard escorts and the China Coast Guard.
The Manila Times, quoting an unnamed senior Chinese official, had reported on Monday that China offered a proposal last April but was "met with inaction by the Marcos administration".
The report said China's proposal included allowing Filipino resupply missions to the Second Thomas Shoal, as long as it involves just one ship and that it does not deliver large-scale building materials.
This was based on an "understanding" between China and Mr Marcos' predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, claimed the report.
On Tuesday, the Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) responded to the report, denying the allegations. They said that while some of China's proposals were "workable", others were "contrary to our national interests".
China had responded to the Philippines' counter-proposals with another set of counter-offers, the DFA added.
Mr Marcos later clarified that China's proposals stood on a "questionable premise", referencing China's so called 10-dash line map.
"We have not rejected any proposals that China has made to us but the premise is something that we questioned... that premise that China has made is that their territory follows what is now described as a 10 dash line," he said in Germany, where he is on an official visit.
He added that China's claims in the South China Sea were "not recognised by any country... certainly not by the Philippines".
China claims by far the largest portion of territory in an area demarcated by the "10-dash line". The line comprises ten dashes which extends hundreds of miles south and east from its most southerly province of Hainan.
Mr Marcos assumed the presidency in June 2022 and pivoted the Philippines back to its traditional ally, the US, drawing China's ire.
After the first collision between Philippine and Chinese ships last October, US President Joe Biden said Washington would defend Manila if Beijing attacks. The two countries are bound by a mutual defence treaty.
Mr Duterte, on the other hand, had pursued stronger economic and political ties with China. He scaled back military co-operation between the Philippine and US militaries and refused to flout an international arbitration court ruling that rejected China's vast sea claims that also overlap with those of Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei.
China says the Philippines ignored proposals it put forward to "manage" their dispute in the South China Sea.
An unnamed senior Chinese official told news outlet the Manila Times that the deal was "met with inaction by the Marcos administration".
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said they did not reject the deal, but said it stood on a "questionable" premise.
The South China Sea is at the centre of a territorial dispute between China, the Philippines and other countries.
But tensions between Manila and Beijing have sharply escalated in recent months. At the heart of it is a decaying ship on Second Thomas Shoal that the Philippines have purposely marooned to reinforce its claim in the shoal.
Routine missions to bring food and essentials to a handful of Filipino soldiers on the ship named Sierra Madre has resulted in encounters between the Philippine Coast Guard escorts and the China Coast Guard.
The Manila Times, quoting an unnamed senior Chinese official, had reported on Monday that China offered a proposal last April but was "met with inaction by the Marcos administration".
The report said China's proposal included allowing Filipino resupply missions to the Second Thomas Shoal, as long as it involves just one ship and that it does not deliver large-scale building materials.
This was based on an "understanding" between China and Mr Marcos' predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, claimed the report.
On Tuesday, the Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) responded to the report, denying the allegations. They said that while some of China's proposals were "workable", others were "contrary to our national interests".
China had responded to the Philippines' counter-proposals with another set of counter-offers, the DFA added.
Mr Marcos later clarified that China's proposals stood on a "questionable premise", referencing China's so called 10-dash line map.
"We have not rejected any proposals that China has made to us but the premise is something that we questioned... that premise that China has made is that their territory follows what is now described as a 10 dash line," he said in Germany, where he is on an official visit.
He added that China's claims in the South China Sea were "not recognised by any country... certainly not by the Philippines".
China claims by far the largest portion of territory in an area demarcated by the "10-dash line". The line comprises ten dashes which extends hundreds of miles south and east from its most southerly province of Hainan.
Mr Marcos assumed the presidency in June 2022 and pivoted the Philippines back to its traditional ally, the US, drawing China's ire.
After the first collision between Philippine and Chinese ships last October, US President Joe Biden said Washington would defend Manila if Beijing attacks. The two countries are bound by a mutual defence treaty.
Mr Duterte, on the other hand, had pursued stronger economic and political ties with China. He scaled back military co-operation between the Philippine and US militaries and refused to flout an international arbitration court ruling that rejected China's vast sea claims that also overlap with those of Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei.
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For Phillipines to accept the China conditions on resupplying the Phillipines outpost less than 100 km from Palawan island would be acknowledging China having the right to impose restrictions on access.. i.e. recognition of China sovereignty.
ReplyDeleteLegally that is untenable.
Based on what legality & who's definitions?
DeleteThe arbitral tribunal decision in July 12, 2016 by The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) was non binding & has NO international legal standing.
PCA is a non-UN intergovernmental organization located in The Hague, Netherlands.
Since when that an intruder can exercises unquestionable rights in rightful owner's territory?
Mfer, only in yr wet dream!
PCA has definitely more legal standing than the Bullshit concocted "historical documents" fraud by CCP academics.
DeleteShow evidential proofs lah!
DeleteDon't just fart about a spurious private setup with its self proclaimed legal authorisation vis-a-vis real historical matwrial finds.
Ooop… ain't u using the Zionist grandmother fables to justify their ongoing crimes in Gaza!
Same tactical farts.
https://pca-cpa.org/en/services/arbitration-services/unclos/
DeleteThe Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) has full international legal standing under UNCLOS.
Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) is independent of the United Nations, and deliberately so. UNCLOS referred it as an independent judicial mechanism to settle disputes between states.
China signed into UNCLOS.
Phillipines signed into UNCLOS
But China chose to BERAK on UNCLOS the moment a ruling went against it. THAT is , hypocrisy.
The USA chose not ratify UNCLOS . That is their right as a sovereign nation. Anyway, they are not a party to the dispute between Phillipines and China. What the Yanks have done is
a) Assert American military right to innocent passage in International waters
b) Remind China of the US -Phillipines mutual defence treaty.
"The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) has full international legal standing under UNCLOS"
DeleteWho & which international recognised authority has/have given that "full international legal standing" to PCA?
Font just fart with a single statement of inconsequential.
Proof?
Evidences?