BY SAMMY JULIAN
Manila News Bureau Chief
MANILA – The Philippines is taking seriously the suggestion of Washington’s top diplomat for Asia for countries embroiled in the South China Sea territorial row – strike a temporary deal not to occupy any of the land features in the disputed region that are currently unoccupied.
The moratorium could cool tensions as countries concerned work toward establishing a long-term code of conduct, said Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Albert del Rosario.
He will propose that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) call for the moratorium.
The suggestion was made by US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific Daniel Russel amid reports that China is reclaiming land and building military facilities in contentious areas of the South China Sea.
Russel said a temporary pledge not to occupy land features in the disputed areas will be consistent with the 2010 Declaration of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (DOC) signed by members ASEAN and China.
Del Rosario said he plans to present the proposal “within the year” as he pointed out that China is actually accelerating its “expansion agenda” in the South China Sea to get it completed before ASEAN countries and China agree on a code of conduct.
DFA expressed concerns about Chinese activities around reefs that could result in the construction of an airstrip.
According to DFA Spokesperson Charles Jose, although they have yet to confirm the report, China’s supposed plan to build an artificial island could nevertheless undermine the Philippines’ arbitration case.
Jose said if the report is true “very clearly what China is doing is – it intends to alter the status quo and change the character of the feature and we believe that by doing so they will prejudice the arbitration we have filed against China before the UNCLOS (United Convention on the Law of the Seas).”
Besides the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and the Taiwan contest China’s claims over almost all of South China Sea./PN
