The Philippines has called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to take a stand on the ongoing stand-off between the Philippines and China in Scarborough Shoal (called Panatag Shoal in the Philippines), which lies 120 kilometres off Zambales province on the western coast of the Philippines' Luzon region.
According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, "a Philippine Coast Guard search and rescue vessel, the BRP Edsa, is facing off with two Chinese vessels at the shoal in a 12-day territorial impasse set off on April 10 by Chinese poaching in the area.
The poachers, on eight Chinese fishing vessels, slipped out of the area with their illegal catch under the protection of the two Chinese surveillance vessels, angering Philippine officials.
Both asserting their territorial claim to the shoal, the Philippines and China have refused to recall their vessels from the area." (More of the story at http://www.asianewsnet.net/home/news.php?id=29841&sec=1)
Aerial view of Scarborough Shoal or Panatag Shoal
Photo from http://www.oceandots.com/pacific/scarborough/scarborough2.php
Philippine officials have asserted that this time the country will not be bullied by China, which claims almost all islets and islands in West Philippine Sea even those within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Philippines, by virtue of a baseless historical claim that was never recognised the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (Unclos).
The Philippines, despite its admission that it has not match against China's military, is standing its ground and will submit a petition to the UN body settling territorial disputes.
Meanwhile, Asean has not made any statement regarding the stand-off. The regional bloc, preparing for an economic integration by 2015, has been pushing for a stronger economic ties with China. Thus, the regional is always circumspect with its dealing with China. But if Asean won't take a clearer on the issue the standoff and the long-running disputes over the Spratlys, of which parts have been claimed not just by China and the Philippines but also by other Asean countries like Viet Nam, Malayia and Brunei, Asean can't say it has really established its own voice or strength against economic giants (bullies) like China.
According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, "a Philippine Coast Guard search and rescue vessel, the BRP Edsa, is facing off with two Chinese vessels at the shoal in a 12-day territorial impasse set off on April 10 by Chinese poaching in the area.
The poachers, on eight Chinese fishing vessels, slipped out of the area with their illegal catch under the protection of the two Chinese surveillance vessels, angering Philippine officials.
Both asserting their territorial claim to the shoal, the Philippines and China have refused to recall their vessels from the area." (More of the story at http://www.asianewsnet.net/home/news.php?id=29841&sec=1)
Photo from http://www.oceandots.com/pacific/scarborough/scarborough2.php
Philippine officials have asserted that this time the country will not be bullied by China, which claims almost all islets and islands in West Philippine Sea even those within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Philippines, by virtue of a baseless historical claim that was never recognised the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (Unclos).
The Philippines, despite its admission that it has not match against China's military, is standing its ground and will submit a petition to the UN body settling territorial disputes.
Meanwhile, Asean has not made any statement regarding the stand-off. The regional bloc, preparing for an economic integration by 2015, has been pushing for a stronger economic ties with China. Thus, the regional is always circumspect with its dealing with China. But if Asean won't take a clearer on the issue the standoff and the long-running disputes over the Spratlys, of which parts have been claimed not just by China and the Philippines but also by other Asean countries like Viet Nam, Malayia and Brunei, Asean can't say it has really established its own voice or strength against economic giants (bullies) like China.
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Panatag Shoal