Japan & Philippines Tighten Defense Ties for Spratlys

Bolstering defense Japan - Philippines

Japan and the Philippines agreed on during the visit of the Philippines' president to Japan September 27, 2011 to strengthen maritime security ties, while also underscoring the importance of preserving peace and stability in the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea) amid rising tensions with China.

China has pronounced many times that they owned everything the in West Philippines Sea that worries other tiger economies in Asia such as Japan & South Korea which major of their trades are passing the world's most busiest sea in the West Philippines Sea and South China Sea – Spratlys archipelago.

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and the Philippines President Benigno Aquino III met, on a four-day visit to Japan. Japanese Prime Minister told reporters that the two sides committed to bolstering "cooperation between coastguards and defense-related authorities."

A joint statement said bilateral ties have evolved from friendly relations to a "strategic partnership," and called for more collaboration on "regional and global issues of mutual concern and interest." The two countries also agreed to conduct frequent discussions on defense at more senior levels and increase the number of Japan Coast Guard missions to help train their Philippines counterparts.

Although the agreement does not directly mention China, it is a major symbolic step toward a multilateral consensus in Asia on dealing with increasing territorial friction with China.

China maintain its claim to the whole West Philippines Sea & South China Sea  with its 9 dotted map inspite of criticism of the ASEAN neighbor with 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone claim in the sea.

The Philippines and China both lay claim to the Spratly Islands; an archipelago in the West Philippines Sea and South China Sea that geologists think may lie atop significant oil and gas deposits and rumored to be the 4^th largest oil and gas deposit in the world. Philippines' officials have accused Chinese vessels of hindering oil and gas exploration in a portion of the waters known as Recto Bank (Reed Bank) which is just few kilometers off Palawan Province – Philippines says this is not part of the disputed areas. Vietnam, which also claims part of the Spratly chain, has likewise complained of China's increasingly assertive claims in the region.

China's Fishing Vessel tactics

China has been noticed by the neighbors that they are using fishing vessel tactics which equipped with high powered weapon to enter other waters. Japan learned from China's tactic after China invaded the Mischief Reef few kilometers off Palawan province of the Philippines using the fishermen vessel to erect a fishermen shelter then later converted it into a Military Garrison even inside the Philippines territory.

In 2011 alone, Japan intercepted Chinese Fishing vessel entering their waters. Moreover, Indonesia's coastguard also arrested Chinese entering their seas using a fishing vessel.

The recent issue that escalate tension between Vietnam and China happened also this year when Chinese fishing vessel cut the cable of the Petro Vietnam, a Vietnam Government Owned Oil exploration which china alibi as it is just a Chinese Fishing vessel and mistakenly drag the cable but later admitted that Vietnam is illegally operating in the area as they said its owned and they do not violated any law and they are not invading.

The Philippines didn't escape from China's harassment. China harassed Filipino Fishermen in the Philippines Waters saying to leave the area because it belongs to china, then another incident happened when China fired the Filipino Fishermen in the Palawan Sea and put markers in the Island and waters in Palawan shore.

Japan too, has seen its relations with China strained by a territorial dispute, this one over islands in the East China Sea. A war of words broke out between Beijing and Tokyo last autumn following the arrest of a Chinese fishing crew by the Japanese coast guard, and the year since has brought a series of incursions by Chinese ships into the disputed waters. Mr. Noda earlier this month voiced concern over China's military build-up and increased maritime activity near Japan.

The agreement between Japan and the Philippines stresses the two countries' shared interests, bringing the similar but separate maritime squabbles with China under a larger cooperative umbrella.

"The peaceful settlement of disputes serves the interests of the two countries and the whole region," said the joint statement, signed by both leaders. Japan and the Philippines "share the recognition that these same interests should also be advanced and protected in the West Philippines Sea and South China Sea."

Responding to the Japan-Philippines meeting, China's foreign ministry on Tuesday (September 27, 2011) reiterated its claim to the disputed waters in the South China Sea.

"China has indisputable sovereignty over the island and surrounding waters of the South China Sea," said ministry spokesman Hong Lei in Beijing.

Regardless of many criticisms, China never leaves the phrases; "we owned everything" & "China has indisputable sovereignty over the island and surrounding waters". Philippines Challenged China to bring the disputes to the United Nations to end it but China refused and said we are only open to bilateral settlement not to the United Nations. 

The next ASEAN tiger cited by Asia Inc & Business leader could be the Philippines

The Philippines has a most unique economy in the world which is highly dependent on domestic consumption that drives their economy that could be hardly hit for any possible global economic recession. Inspite of rich resources, Philippines did not rely on exports to drive a better and fast forward economy.

The Philippines now tagged with fresh opportunities in Asia, boosting and high grades gold mining, boosting of oil and gas exploration,  good political leader,  revived confidence from global investors and now named as to be Asia’s next tiger economy, potentially regaining the glory lost decades ago, according to a visiting regional business leader from Brunei.

Dato Timothy Ong, a leading Brunei businessman who founded and now chairs regional dialogue platform Asia Inc. Forum, said in a press briefing on last September 26, 2011 that he has seen signs that the Philippines could return to its goal of being the next Asian tiger despite staying at the bottom half of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in terms of economic performance for years.

Ong is also the convener of ASEAN 100 Leadership Forum, which will be hosted by the city of Makati on Sept. 28-29, 2011 at the Makati Shangri-La. This year’s ASEAN meet aims to foster insightful and intelligent discussions on the future of ASEAN and how the region can emerge as one of the world’s significant economic blocs.

According to Dato Timothy  Ong, the Philippines can join the ranks of Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea and Hong Kong, the so-called Asian “tiger” economies or newly industrializing countries. He cited five reasons why the country, though a “dark horse,” or a sick man in Asia had the makings of the next move to be the next “tiger.”

The Chair of the regional dialogue platform Asia Inc. Forum cited 5 following reasons why the Philippines could be the next ASEAN Tiger as:

1.      The new leadership under President Aquino has promised to weed out corruption in the country, which has been creating a lot of optimism. It’s widely perceived that the high level of corruption in the country has driven up the cost of doing business.

2.      Mr. Ong said that the Philippines’ would be vast pool of hardworking professionals and skilled manpower, many of whom have been deployed across the globe. “With this wealth of human resources, it’s important to ask then why the Philippines aren’t more successful economically,” he said. Many countries had been dependent on Filipino Professionals and skilled workers to drive their economy like for example banning the Filipino to work in Taiwan will paralyze the Taiwan’s economy. Banning the Filipino to work in the Middle-east might paralyze their economy. Deporting Filipinos in (North Borneo) Sabah might paralyze the Sabah’s economy which the world knew how important the human resources are.  The continues development in the other north Asian countries had been dependent on Filipino skilled workers like for example the Billion Dollar projects of Korea’s builder Hyundai Engineering in Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan which been dependent on Overseas Filipino Workers as highly skilled which the builder could not outsource such kinds from the local man power pool in the 2 ‘stan countries. Many Leading fortune 200 companies in the world are talents hungry but the Philippines have vast and awashing man power pool. Many countries take advantage of Filipinos for not just for cheap labor but also trustworthy multi-tasker and English speaker that could compete globally.

3.      The third factor would be the Philippines’ “centers of excellence,” Ong said, noting that the country has become a competitive hub for business process outsourcing. He likened the Makati central business district to a “First World” city in a Third World country.  “If the Philippines is capable of being first world in these centers of excellence, why can’t it be First World in every respect?” he said.

4.      Ong said the fourth reason would be the Philippines’ homegrown companies that were at par with the world’s best.  He cited fast-food giant Jollibee Foods Corp., international port operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. and the Ayala group of companies. “There is a sense of optimism that characterizes the country as a whole.  As the new government takes its steps in leading the country towards change, it may be able to experience higher standards of governance,” he said.

5.      Finally, Ong noted the Philippines’ “sharply improving competitiveness” as another factor supporting its aspiration to be the next tiger economy. He cited recent reports that the Philippines had jumped 10 notches to 75 from 85 in the latest ranking of the World Economic Forum. Ong said this happened only within the first 15 months of the term of the new president.

Meanwhile, Ong said ASEAN would likely partly meet its target to establish an integrated economic community by 2015.

“A One ASEAN is important for our collective future to accelerate the economic growth, social progress and economic stability in the region; to promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in economic, social, cultural, technical and administrative spheres,” Ong said.

“At the moment, Southeast Asia is like a big gated community where neighbors barely know each other. They know each other by name, they exchange pleasantries but they wouldn’t really go out of their way to have dinner at each other’s house,” he said.

Once integrated, he said, ASEAN could be a very influential bloc as it could become Asia’s third-largest economy next to China and Japan and the ninth-largest in the world.

The Philippines hinting to be a the second ASEAN tiger is so closed to achieve.

Hainan China Mounted Nuclear Weapon Facing Philippines

When China’s largest offshore petroleum producer launched a $1 billion oil rig this summer from Shanghai, Lt. Gen. Juancho Sabban, the commander of Philippine military forces commented that China of 1,500 miles away in the South China Sea, began preparing for trouble.

The drilling platform, said China, would soon be heading in the 38 general’s direction - southward into waters rich in oil and natural gas, and also in volatile fuel for potential conflict.

China pointing the Map down south adjacent to the City of Puerto Princesa Palawan, Province of the Philippines. China is willing to face war and conflict just to drill the oil and gas with or without approval from the Philippines government as they claim the area as undisputable and it core interest.

Regardless of the UNCLOS provision of 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone for the Philippines and other neighboring country within the proximity of the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea), china believed their map is right and will surpassed / overpower the United Nations International laws of Sea as they have their own laws and concept.

Red Alert- Philippines for the unexpected attack of China

Few information leaked that china is preparing to sink the new Philippines Navy Warship Flagship BRP Gregorio del Pilar, a newly acquired and refurbished from the USA high endurance Hamilton Class Cutter Frigate.

Chinese nuclear submarine armed with nuclear missiles has been mounted in Hainan island south of China and high powered weapon are now facing Manila for ready to attack anytime.

Leaked information mentioned that China will target to paralyze the Philippines by attacking the BRP Gregorio del Pilar prior of their planned launching of the $1 billion Dollar oil rig in the area near Pruerto Princesa this year or early next year in 2012.

The Philippines is not yet aware of this china’s plan. The United Nations is now the only chance to intervene or to mediate prior the leaked information to happen.

The cooling of the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea) issue is the preparation of China for their ready to launch $1 billion Dollar oil rig and a simultaneous attack to destroy the BRP Gregorio del Pilar.

“We started war-gaming what we could do,” said Sabban, a barrel-chested, American-trained marine who, as chief of the Philippines’ Western Command, is responsible for keeping out intruders from a wide swath of sea that Manila views as its own 200 Nautical Miles Area from the shore but that is also claimed by Beijing.

China oil hungry giant to attack Spratlys

Arguments over who owns what in the South China Sea have rumbled on for decades, ever since the doomed Chinese government of Chiang Kai-shek in 1947 issued a crude map with 11 dashes marking as Chinese almost the entire 1.3 million-square-mile waterway. The Communist Party toppled Chiang but kept his map and his expansive claims, though it trimmed a couple of dashes.

Today, China’s insatiable thirst for energy has injected a highly combustible new element into long-running quarrels over cartography, arcane issues of international law and ancient shards of pottery that Beijing says testify to its “indisputable sovereignty” over the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea).

China, which imports more than half its oil, will nearly double its demand for the stuff over the next quarter-century, according to the International Energy Agency in Paris. Its demand for natural gas — which is believed to be particularly abundant beneath an archipelago of contested islands and reefs, known as the Spratlys, just west of here — is projected to more than quadruple.

With consumption soaring and the price of imports rising, China is desperate for new sources to boost its proven energy reserves, which for oil now account for just 1.1 percent of the world total — a paltry share for a country that last year consumed 10.4 percent of total world oil production and 20.1 percent of all the energy consumed on the planet, according to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy.

As a result, Beijing views disputed waters as not merely an arena for nationalist flag-waving but as indispensable to its future economic well-being.

“The potential for what lies beneath the sea is clearly a big motivator” in a recent shift by China to a more pugnacious posture in the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea), said William J. Fallon, a retired four-star admiral who headed the U.S. Pacific Command from 2005 until 2007. China is wary of pushing its claims to the point of serious armed conflict, which would torpedo the economic growth on which the party has staked its survival. But, Fallon said, such a thick fog of secrecy surrounds China’s thinking that “we have little insight into what really makes them tick.”

A big factor in this uncertainty is a meshing of Chinese commercial, strategic and military calculations. Like other giant energy companies in China, the China National Offshore Oil Corp., or CNOOC, the owner of the new Chinese rig, pursues profit but is ultimately answerable to the party, whose secretive Organization Department appoints its boss.

₱5 Billion Armament Budget to Secure West Philippines Oil and Gas Field Approved by Pres. Aquino

President Benigno Aquino III has approved the release of ₱4.9 Billion from the Malampaya fund to strengthen the defenses of natural gas exploration in northern Palawan, National Treasurer Roberto Tan said Wednesday (September 14, 2011).

The fund to be released this month, will be disbursed to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for the purchased of New smaller patrol vessel, 4 radar Station, Tanks, and modern assault rifles and ammunitions. The AFP was tasked to acquire and deploy a support fleet of ships smaller than the Hamilton class BRP Gregorio del Pilar.

As early as last March, the Philippine military sent an aircraft to the disputed Recto Bank ( Reed Bank) near Palawan following reports that Chinese patrol boats were trying to harass a Filipino oil exploration team there.

Lt. Gen. Juancho Sabban, chief of the AFP Western Mindanao Command, said the Chinese were claiming the exploration team from the Department of Energy was in Chinese territory where in fact the Recto Bank is just in the backyard of the Philippines, within 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone, while china is within thousands of Kilometers.

BRP Gregorio del Pilar, the Philippine Navy's largest and newly acquired ship, is a symbol of the Philippines' "seriousness" in fortifying the protectors of the country's maritime resources.

The Gregorio del Pilar, however, is less than half the size of China's first aircraft carrier that is expected to go on sea trials by the end of September. The Philippines' largest ship is 367 feet long, compared to China's Shi Lang that measures 1,000 feet.

₱100 Billion Malampaya "Commingled" Fund Missing?

The National Treasurer also disclosed Wednesday at the joint congressional oversight committee hearing on the comprehensive tax reform package that the Malampaya fund, with a remaining balance of ₱99.45 Billion, exists as a "commingled" special account in the government's general fund.

He said the Malampaya collections from 2002 to August 2011 totaled ₱121.97 Billion, of which ₱21.645 Billion was disbursed partly to pay for the Hamilton class ship which the Philippines bought from the United States of America.

During the hearing, Senator Ralph Recto made an issue out of the "commingled" status of the Malampaya fund and said that the fund was missing. Recto argued that the fund cannot be used for any purpose other than those for which it was created.

In a July 5 statement, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad explained the Malampaya fund was "…not actual cash but an accounting of revenue inflows and expenditure items charged against the Fund since revenues were remitted to the government from the Malampaya Natural Gas Project since it started in 2002."

The Malampaya special account is known at the Department of Budget and Management as Fund 151 and is managed by the Bureau of Treasury and the Energy Department.

Abad also said back in July that the Aquino administration had charged ₱2.87 Billion to the Malampaya account for "necessary energy-related" expenditures:

·        ₱2 Billion for fuel requirements of the National Power Corporation-Small Power Utilities Group (NPC-SPUG), to avert a power shortage in off-grid areas

·        ₱450 million for the Pantawid Pasada program as direct support to jeepney and tricycle drivers affected by the recent spate of oil price hikes and

·        ₱423 million for the purchase of the USS Hamilton cutter marine vessel to strengthen the security perimeter of the Malampaya Natural Gas Project.

Abad claimed that during the Arroyo administration only ₱250 million out of the ₱19.64 billion drawn from the fund was spent on an energy-related project that provided electricity to 211 villages in 2006

"The rest of the 98.73 percent or ₱19.39 billion was released for non-energy related projects," Abad noted and broke it down as follows:

·        In 2006, ₱1 billion for the Armed Forces Modernization Fund (What AFP modernization happened in 2006?)

·        In 2008, ₱4 billion for the Department of Agriculture

·        In 2009, a total of ₱14.39 billion to various agencies, including ₱7.07 billion for the Department of Public Works and Highways, ₱2.14 billion for the Philippine National Police, ₱1.82 billion for the Agriculture Department, ₱1.4 billion for the National Housing Authority, and ₱900 million for the Department of Agrarian Reform.

National Treasurer Tan said the ₱4.9 billion for the security build-up in northern Palawan will likely be raised through borrowings and then credited to Fund 151.

Budget Secretary Abad in a statement September 7 described how government will disburse the money for Malampaya defenses.

"The amount is divided between the capability requirements of the Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force. Of this amount, ₱2.65 billion will fund base support and logistic system, coast watch requirements; and the acquisition of a high-endurance cutter sea vessel and three helicopters of the Philippine Navy."

"Meanwhile, the Air Force will be using ₱2.30 billion to purchase three helicopters and develop a base-hangar," Abad said.

The Philippines' 2011 2nd protest Against china for Invading Philippines waters

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) shows the light Blue Dotted line as 200 Nautical Mile Economic Zone for the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia. The Blue dotted line includes most part of the Kalayaan Island Group (Spratly) of the Philippines. UNCLOS did not show any China’s territory in the West Philippines Sea. The Philippines recorded already 6 invasion by china to the West Philippine Sea As of June 3, 2011.

Philippine Online Protest against china’s 6 Invasion to the Philippine waters leaded by Young Filipinos is launched today at http://spratly.highkot.com/ It is ahead from the formal protest to the UNCLOS which is on the process by the Philippine Government.

Malacañang Palace Manila said that preparations are underway for the Philippines’ protest before the United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the Spratlys issue, stressing that it wants to resolve the matter in a diplomatic and peaceful way.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the government is preparing what it can present to the UNCLOS.

“We will prepare accordingly and we hope for the best and again, we prepare for the worst,” she said. “We reiterate our commitment to resolve the dispute peacefully.”

Valte said that President Aquino has always pushed for a “diplomatic resolution of any conflict that will arise in connection with the West Philippine Sea.”

“We wish to stress that the way we are approaching these incidents is that we are fully committed to resolving it in a very diplomatic manner and a peaceful manner as well,” she said.

Malacanang has said that the new construction by China in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) is a “cause for concern”

The DFA had requested clarification from the Chinese Embassy on the recent sightings of a China Marine Surveillance (CMS) vessel and other People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships at the vicinity of Iroquois Reef-Amy Douglas Bank in the West Philippine Sea. These ships reportedly unloaded building materials, erected an undetermined number of posts, and placed a buoy near the breaker of the Amy Douglas Bank.

The Amy Douglas Bank is located southwest of Recto (Reed) Bank and east of Patag (Flat) Island and is well within the Philippines’ 200 nautical miles Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). There are currently no structures on the said bank and the latter is unoccupied, according to a DFA statement.

The posts and buoy placed by the Chinese at the vicinity of the Amy Douglas Bank, however, are about 26 nautical mile east of Patag Island and 125 nautical mile from mainland Palawan.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario had said that “any new construction by China in the vicinity of the uninhabited Amy Douglas Bank is a clear violation of the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC) in the South China Sea.”

It will be recalled that during the dialogue between President Aquino and Chinese Defense Minister Liang in May, an agreement was forged between China and the Philippines to continue engaging in dialogue towards an amicable settlement on the disputed Spratly islands.

Both parties also agreed that the best way to solve the issue is to continue to engage into dialogue, not just between China and the Philippines, but also other countries that are claimants to the Spratlys.

 

The Philippines will file a new protest at the United Nations for China's 6 series of Invasion in the Philippine Waters

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) shows the light Blue Dotted line as 200 Nautical Mile Economic Zone for the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, China and Indonesia. The Blue dotted line includes most part of the Kalayaan Island Group (Spratly) of the Philippines. UNCLOS did not show any territorial rights for China in the West Philippine Sea of the South China Sea which is Within the Philippine water and closer to the Kalayaan Island Group of the Philippines. The Philippines recorded already 6 invasion by china to the West Philippine Sea.

The Philippines will file a new protest at the United Nations accusing China of territorial incursion, the president said Thursday in an escalation of spats over disputed West Philippine Sea of the South China Sea islands.

China's Embassy in Manila earlier denied the Philippine government's allegations its ships intruded into the Spratly Islands close to the Philippine coast to build new structures and fortify its claim in the potentially oil-rich region.

President Benigno Aquino, speaking to Filipino reporters during a visit to Brunei, said that the Philippines is planning to file a new protest at the U.N. for a series of incursions.

"There are six or seven (incursions) happening after February 25, 2011. We are completing all the necessary data and then we will present it to them (China) and then file it with the appropriate body, which is the U.N.," he said.

Aquino said he is still hoping to visit Beijing later this year, and will engage China, a key trade partner, in talks during upcoming regional summits.

The disputed Spratlys, which are believed to be atop vast oil and gas reserves, have long been feared as a potential flash point of armed conflicts in Asia. The chain of largely uninhabited islands, reefs and banks which are within 200 Nautical Mile Economic Zone of the Philippines and part of the Philippine Waters are claimed by China, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam, straddle some of the world's busiest commercial sea lanes.

The Philippine military has reported that a Chinese surveillance vessel and navy ships were seen unloading building materials and erecting posts in the vicinity of Iroquois Reef and Amy Douglas Bank an uninhabited undersea hill of the West Philippines Sea at  about 125 miles (230 kilometers) from south-western Palawan province. UNCLOS specified that the 200 Nautical Mile Economic Zone is part of the Philippine territory.

It is part of the Spratlys but well within the Philippines' 200-mile exclusive economic zone, the Philippine Foreign Affairs Department said.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila said in a brief statement that "the reported 'incursion of Chinese ships' is not true." But, it acknowledged the presence there of a Chinese marine research ship "conducting normal maritime research activities in the South China Sea."

Foreign Secretary Alberto del Rosario said any new construction by China in the area "is a clear violation" of a 2002 accord that China signed with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which includes the Philippines. It calls for countries to exercise restraint and stop occupying new areas in the disputed waters.

Two Philippine foreign affairs officials told reporters Thursday that local authorities have monitored about six aggressive acts of China in the Spratlys that have raised worries that Beijing may be embarking to fortify its territorial claims by constructing new structures on barren offshore areas.

Those acts included the reported firing last February by a suspected Chinese naval vessel to scare away Filipino fishermen from the Jackson Atoll in a Spratlys area part of the Philippine water, said the officials, who spoke anonymously because of the sensitivity of the subject.

In March, the Philippines accused two Chinese patrol boats of harassing a Philippine oil exploration ship near Palawan. Last month, the Philippine air force reported that two unidentified foreign fighter jets had flown near a Spratly island occupied by Filipino troops but China denied sending the aircraft.

Chinese media have reported that Beijing plans to install an advanced oil rig in the West Philippine Sea of the South China Sea in July. The Philippines expressed concern and asked China's embassy last week about the exact location of the planned oil rig and said that it should not be placed in Philippine waters.

In April, China countered a previous Philippine diplomatic protest at the United Nations by saying it has indisputable sovereignty over the Spratly islands that Manila "started to invade" in the 1970s.

China's claim to the islands and nearby geographic features was detailed in a map submitted to the U.N. in 2009.

Vietnam and Malaysia have also filed protests to the United Nations against China's map. The protests are registered with the U.N. Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, which will not rule on a claim if it involves disputed territory unless there is prior consent given by all states involved in the dispute.

 

China fired at Filipino fishermen in Jackson atoll - Province of Palawan Philippines

“Bandit influenced Muslim and Subano Groups in Mindanao Angry of China”

A soft warning to china: “There is no giant that can sore your eyes; only David could kill Goliath and the Dragon” this is the word of hope by the young Filipinos reacting after hearing the news. “Who the hell is china to harassed our fellow Filipino in our territory? Filipinos are worth dying for. We are not scared to die to protect our land. Do not dare us!” they added. Young Filipino Muslims and Subano Tribe in Mindanao reacted this news as very alarming. They said “If Bin Ladin is killed by the US Forces, we don’t need him, he just divided the Philippines. Our Land needs our care, We will group again to fight china. Muslim in Mindanao are the bravest people in the world which never defeated by the Spanish for 300 years in the Philippines and never defeated by Americans. If the Philippines is divided by belief, we will unite again. We Muslims and Subano are lumad of the land are not scared of chinese” the group added.

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Chinese Warship harassed Filipino Fishermen in Palawan Sea

Chinese harassed Filipino Fisherman in the West Philippine Sea February 25, 2011. The brazen Chinese Warship-men wants the Filipino Fishermen flee from the Philippine Waters in the West Philippine Sea of the Exclusive Philippine Economic Zone claiming the West Philippine Sea as the china’s territory.

“This is Chinese Warship 560. You are in the China territory. Leave the area immediately.”

Upon hearing this warning through a marine band radio, three Philippine boats fishing in Quirino, or Jackson atoll, a Philippine-owned islet off Palawan in the disputed Spratly Islands, scampered away.

But the Chinese warship still fired three shots at the vessels F/V Jaime DLS, F/V Mama Lydia DLS and F/V Maricris 12. The Philippine Navy later identified the Chinese warship as Dongguan, a Jianghu-V Class missile frigate.

The incident in the South China Sea happened on Feb. 25, 2011 - before March when the Philippine-commissioned seismic vessel was reportedly harassed in Reed Bank in western Palawan and before the Chinese vessels laid steel posts and a buoy in May in the Amy Douglas (Iroquois) Bank southwest of Reed Bank which Manila said is within its 200-mile exclusive economic zone.

Yet while the Philippine government protested the March and May incidents, one by note verbale another verbally, it did no such thing about the February incident.

Jackson atoll is a ring-shaped coral reef that has closely spaced islands on it encircling a lagoon. It is a rich fishing ground within Palawan’s 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone and belongs to the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) which under Philippine law is part of the country’s regime of islands.

A military report seen by VERA Files said that on Feb. 25, 2011 while anchored at Jackson atoll, the three Philippine fishing boats were approached by the Chinese warship, which introduced itself through a marine band radio and demanded that the Filipino fishermen leave at once.

F/V Maricris 12, however, experienced trouble removing its anchor, and its captain, Russel De la Cruz, pleaded with the Chinese warship, also through a marine band radio to “please wait for a while.”

“However, the Chinese warship repeatedly answered, ‘I will shoot you.’ Then, De la Cruz heard three consecutive gunshots and saw the projectiles hit the surface of the water 0.3 nautical miles away from the position of F/V Maricris,” the military report said.

F/V Maricris 12 had to cut its anchor lines in order to flee from what it sensed was imminent danger.

The gunshots were also heard by F/V Jaime DLS, which reported the incident by radio to the Philippine Navy detachment on Lawak Island which, in turn, relayed it to the Naval Station on Pag-Asa island until it reached the Naval Forces West headquarters in Palawan.

The three beleaguered fishing vessels proceeded to the Philippine-occupied Lawak where they sought refuge for two days. The Chinese warship was later sighted southeast of Lawak toward Patag Island, also held by the Philippines.

According to the military report, when F/V Maricris 12 returned to Jackson atoll on Feb. 28 to retrieve its anchor, it sighted three Chinese fishing vessels colored blue, red and green, exploiting the marine resources in the area.

The oil-rich Spratlys chain in the West Philippine Sea of the South China Sea which is being claimed in part by the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei and wholly by China, Taiwan and Vietnam. Of the more or less 160 islands, Vietnam occuppies 25 islands; China, 12; the Philippines, nine; Malaysia, five, and Taiwan, one. Brunei does not occupy a single geographical feature but has established a fishing zone that overlaps a southern reef.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin expressed alarm at the increasing Chinese incursions in the hotly contested Spratly Islands.

“Dumami yung intrusions. Ibig sabihin e, yung mga areas nasa lugar natin na wala tayong mga gwardya ay doon ang nilalagyan nila. In other words, gusto nila magtanim ng mga bandera nila sa ganun masabi nila sa kanila yung area (The incursions are rising. This means they are positioning themselves in areas that are ours but are unguarded. In other words, they want to plant flags to claim these places),” Gazmin said in a briefing Wednesday.

Besides the recent incidents at Jackson atoll, Reed Bank and Amy Douglas Bank, a Chinese marine vessel with a flat bed was sighted in Abad Santos or Bombay shoal on May 6, and the Chinese Marine Surveillance ship 75 and Salvage/research Ship 707 were spotted steaming toward Southern Bank on May 21, 2011.

Armed Forces Chief Eduardo Oban said the military will maintain the level of force in the disputed islands, but will also increase the operational tempo of its routine patrols and reconnaissance flights within the country’s territorial boundaries.

On Tuesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs summoned the charge d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Manila to seek clarification on the recent sightings of a China Marine Surveillance (CMS) vessel and other People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships at the vicinity of the Amy Douglas Bank.

The Philippine Navy, through the fishermen, had recovered steel posts with Chinese markings that were put up in the area, according to Oban.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario said, “Any new construction by China in the vicinity of the uninhabited Amy Douglas Bank is a clear violation of the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC) in the South China Sea.”

The Chinese vessels were first sighted by fishermen on May 24, 2011 and reported to the Philippine Navy the following day.

After receiving the report on May 26, the Navy headquarters in Manila ordered a ship deployed to the area to verify the sighting. Bad weather, however, hampered the immediate deployment of the ship to Amy Douglas.

By May 29, 2011 the Chinese vessels were no longer in the area, the posts had been dismantled and turned over to the Navy, and the buoy was no longer there.

The AFP intelligence department briefed Gazmin and Oban on the developments in the KIG on Monday and later Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario.

On Tuesday, the Chinese embassy official was summoned to the Department of Foreign Affairs. The Cabinet’s National Security Cluster met at the Villamor Airbase regarding the incident shortly before the President left for a state visit in Brunei, and a statement was subsequently issued by the DFA.

The DFA, however, did not hand the Chinese embassy a note verbale when it summoned the charge d’affaires on Tuesday.

This was unlike the diplomatic protest it issued in March when Chinese boats ordered a Philippine seismic vessel in Reed Bank to leave, and even maneuvered close to the Philippine vessel at least twice, apparently to show they would ram it.

The diplomatic protest seen by VERA Files raised four points to prove that Reed Bank is not part of the disputed area by projecting 85 nautical miles from the basepoint in the northern part of Palawan and not from the KIG. China questioned this during meetings with the Philippines, but did not reply in a diplomatic note.

The military acknowledged its lack of capability to confront foreign enemies, but said it is ready to defend the country. But it said it prefers diplomatic means as the first option in dealing with the South China Sea dispute.

“The option open to us is first the diplomatic protest. We are in no position to confront the forces that are intruding in our territory simply because we don't have the capability,” Gazmin said.

He said the Chinese intrude into the disputed areas by initially setting up posts and then laying buoys to claim an area. The posts eventually become a lighthouse.

“Once this becomes a lighthouse these are boundaries of territories. So once that is established they can always claim that is theirs,” the defense secretary said. “That is why it is our responsibility to make sure that this doesn't happen now and in the future.”

He said the military is upgrading the capability of its maritime assets in the area to better guard the islands. “Hand-in-hand with this is the organization of our fishermen who provide us the necessary information and documentation needed to file a formal diplomatic protest,” Gazmin said.

 

The Philippines recorded 6 times Alarming invasion of China in the West Philippine Sea

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) shows the light Blue Dotted line as 200 Nautical Mile Economic Zone for the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, China and Indonesia. The Blue dotted line includes most part of the Kalayaan Island Group (Spratly) of the Philippines. UNCLOS did not show any territorial rights for China in the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea which is closer to the Kalayaan Island Group of the Philippines. The Philippines recorded already 6 invasion by china to the West Philippine Sea.

Philippines - Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said on Wednesday that he will raise the issue of intrusions by China at the West Philippines Sea islands in the disputed Spratlys before the 2011 Asian Security Forum.

The forum, which is also called the Shangrila Dialogue, will be held in Singapore this weekend and will be attended by defense chiefs in Asia.

Gazmin said the military has monitored fresh intrusions by China in the disputed Spratlys.

In a press briefing organized by the Philippine Information Agency, Gazmin said the first intrusion occurred last May 21 when Chinese Defense minister Liang Guanglie and his party arrived Manila for a goodwill visit.

The second intrusion occurred last May 24, or a day after Gazmin and Liang met in Camp Aguinaldo, where the two defense chiefs vowed to ensure affect stability in Spratlys, which are also known as the Kalayaan Island Group.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has filed a diplomatic protest against China, the second since last March when the DFA also protested the harassment by 2 Chinese vessels of Department of Energy oil exploration ship at Reed Bank.

Gazmin said a buoy and posts were set up by a Chinese transport ship and 2 missile boats at the Amy Douglas Bank, which is near the Philippine-occupied Likas and Patag islands. The bank is about 100 miles off Palawan.

"We were not able to get a closer look on what the ship was carrying but we were certain that it was a flatbed ship," he said.

The defense chief said that the Chinese put up the buoy and the posts as part of their strategy to claim the island. "This means that they are putting up (structures) in our areas where we have no guards. In other words, they want to hoist their flag so that they can say the area is theirs," he added.

"The report that came in to us states that the fishermen were responsible in removing all these materials and these were turned over to the military… What we found there are steel posts and buoy," the defense chief revealed.

Gazmin said President Benigno Aquino III has been already informed of the Chinese intrusions. "The President has given instructions to do some actions on this," he said.

"The options open to us is first, the diplomatic protest. We are in no position to confront the force that are intruding into our territory simply because we do not have the capability, that is why we are in the process of actively pursuing our modernization program and the capability upgrade of our maritime assets," he added.

Gazmin said they have recorded at least 6 intrusions by China, which he considers as "alarming."

When asked what happens if the intrusions continue, Gazmin said:  "We will continue to file diplomatic protests."

"The most we can do is file diplomatic protest, that is the most civilized thing to do at the moment," said Gazmin, adding he is somewhat "affected" by the latest Chinese intrusion, noting that these occurred during the visit of Liang in Manila.

"We talked to them properly and our agenda is that all problems can be resolved through dialogue. But while we were doing these (talks), something is happening in our area,: he said.

"Before making a judgment, we want to know if the (defense) leadership is aware of that incident or if the (Chinese defense) minister is not aware of this plan."

The Chinese defense minister is expected to attend the Asian Security Forum.

"I will be raising the issue if and when we will have the chance to go on a bilateral or meeting between ourselves. Given the chance, I will," said Gazmin.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Oban said he ordered the AFP Western Command to step up patrols in the area.

 

Oil and Natural gas, Spratlys issue top agenda of Aquino, Bolkiah in Sultanate of Brunei

Brunei Darussalam  - Oil and atural gas exploration and the West Philippine Sea of the South China Sea dispute were on top of the agenda when President Aquino and Brunei’s Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah met here on Wednesday, as the sultanate received the Philippine president in full royal regalia.

The two countries also signed separate five-year memoranda of understanding to promote cooperation and encourage greater private sector participation in developing shipping, tourism, agriculture and sports.

Speaking about the Spratlys dispute in a briefing at the Rizqun Hotel here, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said Aquino sought oil-rich Brunei’s help in developing natural gas infrastructure in the Philippines.

“The President invited Brunei to look at the development of infrastructure for natural gas so that this can be used as the main fuel for transport in the Philippines. The two leaders agreed that a working group will be formed in order to flesh out the implementation of the agreement,” said Coloma.

From his two-hour flight from Manila, Aquino arrived aboard a Rolls Royce at the Istana Nurul Iman, the royal residence, at 11 a.m. on Wednesday and was welcomed by a royal gun salute.

Bolkiah, the rest of the royal family, Brunei ministers and members of the diplomatic corps lined the palace’s main hallway to welcome Aquino.

The Philippine delegation brought a dozen boxes of ice cream in different flavors, a royal favorite, as a gift to Bolkiah, according to embassy officials.

During bilateral talks, the two leaders “expressed a desire to maintain peace and stability in area through multilateral dialogue with claimant countries,” Coloma said.

“During talks, the Sultan also said that it’s best to have good relations with China.  Two leaders have repeatedly [emphasized] the need for peaceful approaches and peaceful solutions,” Coloma said.

Brunei and the Philippines both have partial claims to the Spratlys, a resource-rich group of islands in the West Philippine Sea of the South China Sea. China, Vietnam and Malaysia also claim ownership of the islands in part or as a whole.

Aquino recently discussed the Spratlys issue with Chinese defense minister Liang Guanglie when the latter visited the Philippines two weeks ago. He warned that an “arms race” might ensue between the two nations if China continued to provoke the Philippines through military movement in the islands.

“The concept that the two leaders discussed is multilateral dialogue, participated in by ASEAN and all claimant countries and China in the spirit of cooperation.  If the objective is peace and stability, the stance being taken by the sultan is to engage in multilateral talks,” said Coloma.

Asked if Aquino mentioned recent incidents between China and the Philippines in the Kalaayan group of islands, Coloma said: “The President alluded to certain challenges in the area, but that did not constitute a lengthy discussion.”

“The President simply told the sultan that, recently, there had been some developments in some area, that leads us to be more purposive and determined in seeking peaceful cooperation and dialogue,” said Coloma.

Aquino also invited Bolkiah to visit the Philippines to inaugurate a learning center and a grand mosque built through Brunei funding in Cotabato City, Coloma said.

The President also expressed gratitude for Brunei’s participation in the international monitoring team keeping watch on peace talks between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Aquino also met with the Filipino community in Brunei Wednesday afternoon, recalling his first visit in the country 23 years ago during the presidency of his late mother, President Corazon Aquino.

Some 18,000 Filipinos work in Brunei, among them engineers, teachers and service workers.

 

Communist China Don't deserves chair, power and authority in the United Nations

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) guaranteed 200 Nautical Mile Economic Zone for the Philippines, China, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia. UNCLOS did not show any China’s territory in the West Philippines Sea’s Spratlys. China’s limit is only until Paracel islands.  The Philippines recorded already 6 invasions by china to the West Philippine Sea as of June 16, 2011.

China’s temporary pedestal

Inspite of China’s temporary and limited power as they are not yet so powerful compared to America; they are already starts bullying the small neighboring countries around them. Just recently, we could see how the Chinese war planes browbeaten the Philippine warplane patrolling in the Kalayaan Islands Group (KIG), province of Palawan Philippines. China has been accused for 6 times invasion into the Philippines waters in just 4 months in 2011. It has been reported that China threaten and fired the Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea, just few kilometers from the shore of Palawan. China also had been accused of invading the Philippine horizon in the Islands and waters of the West Philippine Sea. Further, they also conduct a research in the Philippine waters without asking any permission to the Philippines’ government. China insisted after the Philippines protest as they said it is within their jurisdiction rejecting the UNCLOS international laws of sea 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone of all the countries surrounding the area. Part of china’s dream to create a Chinese empire, they issued a new 9 dotted map claiming the Philippines shore, waters and islands in the West Philippines after the result of study and research that the West Philippines Sea ranked as the 4th largest Oil and Gas Deposit in the world in line with the Arab countries. Not only in the Philippines; China also harassed the government owned oil and exploration of the communist Vietnam (Petro Vietnam). They also want to claim the waters and islands of Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.

Spratlys Islands of the Philippines

The Spratlys or also called as Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) or Freedom Land of the Philippines is composed of small islands, reefs and atolls. It is located in the West Philippines Sea (formerly called South China Sea) that links the Philippine Sea -Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. All its islands are coral, low and small, about 5 to 6 meters above water, spread over 160,000 to 180,000 square kilometers of sea zone (or 12 times that of the Paracels), with a total land area of 10 square kilometers.  The Spratly Island is - whole or partially claimed by the Philippines as it is in the West Philippine Sea, within 200 Nautical Mile Exclusive Economic Zone (UNCLOS – International Laws of Sea). The Philippines is the closest archipelagic country in Asia with the same features of the Spratlys. The Philippines also is the first country legally pronounced its ownership to the world through a Filipino navigator Tomas Cloma in 1955.  With UNLCOS 200 Nautical Mile Exclusive Economic Zone[200 Nautical Mile or = 370.40 Kilometers because 1 Nautical Mile (NM) = 1.85 Kilometer and / or 1.15 Miles (mi)], the Philippines, China and Vietnam gains their rights to explore their seas with such International Laws of Sea limit. The disputed areas are just in between the Philippines and Vietnam’s 200 Nautical Mile EEZ but disputes arisen in the non disputed areas which most are in the Philippines' water when other claimants including Vietnam, China, and Malaysia overlapped their claim into the Philippines Waters. In the UNCLOS 200 Nautical Mile Exclusive Economic Zone- the countries have rights over spratlys are only the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. For China and Vietnam their limit is just until the Paracels. In between the Paracel and Spratly is the international water which is disputed. The Malaysian claimed is based on the North Borneo which is called now as Sabah the old Sultanate of Sulu, Philippines which was turnover by Britain to Malaysia as gift for friendship and alliance. The Philippines still on their stake to take back the North Borneo and planned to void the turnover of Britain because Britain is not part of the country and they don’t have jurisdiction over the sultanate of Sulu, Philippines.

China, the 666; the beast in the phrase of the Holy Bible

China is not yet fully installed in the full power like America, but now they are start crawling to claim neighboring countries. Analysts and concerns asked- so how much more if china will become the powerful country in the world. China is also named as the golden dragon. The Holy Bible mentioned that time will come, the beast and dragon will rule the earth and the world slowly decrypts the phrases of the Bible which slowly pointing the communist china as the 666 dragon. In china religion is limited. China’s government will jail you if you will gather to praise Jesus Christ. The Bible mentioned about the Anti-Christ; and the existence of China as the golden dragon is performing the - what explained in the “Revelation” of the Holy Bible as anti Christ. If China will win over the Spratlys, it could be the time that china will take over the West Philippine Sea, and the dragon would have the potential to take over and rule the world as they would gain more power in the Oil and Gas deposit in the area of the West Philippines Sea. China might promote satanic act and 666 around the globe and might vanished the human rights law and control every breath of every living creature in earth. 

It’s not yet too late to boycott all products from china so the demon will stop growing. USA, the most powerful peaceful nation must start cutting the evil desire of china. Even the USA which is the most powerful country, they did not abuse their power and authority. USA promotes justice and human rights to the entire humanity as a good model to the countries of the world. Opposite on what happen in china, they are communist and anyone will against the government will die. Anyone will gather for their religions like Christianity will be jailed. USA is not like that. The America is a good leader with capability to discipline and educate other leaders.

If China will win against the battle for the Spratly of the Philippines, the world would have imbalance of power both economically and leadership. If the Philippines will fail to protect their sovereignty especially in the Kalayaan Island Group, it is not the only loss of the Philippines but it’s a big loss of the world as the anti Christ 666 dragon china will rule the earth and they could control everything. The loss of the Philippines is the loss of the entire humanity. The only “key” left to jail this dragon to remain its cage is the Philippines the country of the people of God dominated by Christianity. As United States of America a chosen country to protect the world from the evil desire of any country like China and their allies, USA have the role to protect the countries who exercise freedom and justice and they have the role to protect the “key” to remain the dragon in jail which is the Philippines. We could not change the destiny of the Earth but we could protect the world and its people from totally damaged. We can delay the phrases revealed in the Holy Bible of “The Revelation” the beast, the dragon and the 666 will rule the earth before the coming of Christ.

The Philippines and the MDT with USA

As part of the agreement between the Philippines and the USA (MDT) or Mutual Defense Treaty; the United States is obliged to protect the Philippines and the only way to do it is to restore the presence of the USA in areas of the Philippines. If the USA will install their airbase in the Spratlys, then they could discipline china’s rude illusion in the Southeast Asia that would affect the world. USA and allies must protect the countries which are the subject of the illusion of China that might result to spark the unexpected Third World War (WWIII). How comes the very far China with 1000 Miles distance of the east Asia will crawl to claim the Philippines of the Southeast Asia? .

The Philippines and China in the Ancient times

It is undeniable that before the invasion of the Spain to the Philippines prior the year 1300 China already makes business with the Philippines peacefully. SPAIN, USA and British is not there in Asia, China and the Philippines live peacefully and China even use some islands of the Philippines which is the Spratlys while conducting business with the Philippines. China usually has the stopover in Spratlys before coming and leaving to the Main Islands of the Philippines (Luzon, Mindanao & Visayas).  China also continues their trading to Indonesia passing through the Philippine waters.  China now is slowly grabbing power both economy and leadership in the global community. What will happen if China will be fully installed as the most powerful country? China becomes greed and wants to betray the friendship with the Philippines that established since ancient time.  China must wakeup; if china wants peace then they must have to protect the still weakening friendship with neighbors because the reason of the recent conflict  is because of china’s illusion to claim the islands and waters of the West Philippines, and islands of the communist Vietnam in Paracel.