MANILA, Philippines - Amid fresh calls for
China to exercise restraint in the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea, the
United Kingdom has stressed the need by nations concerned to maintain freedom
of navigation in the region and to resolve territorial disputes through legal
means.
British Ambassador Asif Ahmad
noted that freedom of navigation and trade by land, sea or air have always been
possible even without any “security architecture.”
“We hear from the Chinese
ambassador and he talks about things like the Maritime Silk Road. At one level,
we all recognize China’s great economic might. It’s a great power and should
exercise that responsibly,” Ahmad told The STAR in an interview Wednesday
afternoon.
“There are many good things that
have come from China and we want that to continue. But in our view, the
Maritime Silk Road does not require sentries or toll gate operators,” he added.
The so-called Maritime Silk Road
proposed by China harks back to an ancient land-based trade route that spans
through Southeast Asia to Venice via South Asia, Africa and Middle East.
The modern-day Maritime Silk
Road, Chinese officials said, would serve the same purpose – of boosting
regional trade and creating new opportunities for infrastructure and resources.
China floated the idea of creating a new
economic belt amid its ongoing territorial dispute with its smaller neighbors,
particularly the Philippines and Vietnam.
Experts believe the dispute would
impact heavily on regional trade if left unresolved.
The Asian superpower is claiming
almost 90 percent of the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea, while the
Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have overlapping claims over
some islets, shoals, reefs and other land forms in the region.
China has been occupying disputed
areas to assert its claim in the potentially oil and gas-rich area. Concerns
have been raised over the possible impact of China’s actions on freedom of
navigation.
Quick
action needed
Commander Angus Essenhigh, who
oversees Asia Pacific at the UK Ministry of Defense International Policy and
Planning section, said the disputes should be addressed through legal means.
“The UK position on the South
China Sea is clearly we wouldn’t take any position on sovereignty and we
request everyone to negotiate this through legal mechanisms, making sure we
de-escalate the situation,” Essenhigh said.
“As a nation we all see Southeast
Asia growing as the engine of global economy and we wish it to continue to be
so,” he added.
Ahmad said the United Kingdom
supports the Philippines’ move to bring its territorial row with China to an
international arbitral tribunal.
He said China should not create
“new facts” on the ground as this could raise concerns and questions.
“We’re simply saying you should
not build new facts on the ground without any clear basis for doing so,” the
British diplomat said.
China has constructed a garrison
in Panganiban (Mischief) Reef off Palawan and has deployed ships in Panatag
(Scarborough) Shoal off Zambales, both within the Philippines’ exclusive
economic zone.
It has also set up a blockade
around Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, where BRP Sierra Madre, a grounded ship
serving as Philippine military detachment, is located.
Previous reports said China is
fast-tracking construction activities on Mabini (Johnson South), Calderon
(Cuarteron) and Burgos (Gaven) reefs.
China is also planning to build
an artificial island on Fiery Cross Reef, an area locally known as Kagitingan
Reef. – Delon Porcalla, Jaime Laude
(The Philippine Star)
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