KJM Varma,
Beijing, Apr 26 - China today rejected Philippines's call for international arbitration over an escalating dispute in the South China Sea, even as its military asserted for the first time that it intends to play an active role in safeguarding Beijing's maritime rights in the region.
Outlining what role it intends to play in the South China Sea disputes that involves a host of neighbours, Chinese Defence Ministry said it would actively assist fisheries and maritime supervision agencies.
Chinese armed forces will closely work with fishery and maritime supervision agencies to jointly safeguard national marine rights and interests, a Defence Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng told media here.
His comments came as US forces held exercises with the Philippines army and geared up for joint drills with Vietnam's military. China has territorial disputes with the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan across South China Sea.
He also said that China's first aircraft carrier is getting ready for deployment as it neared its trials, which were yielding expected results.
China and Philippines were engaged in a stand-off over a disputed shoal in the sea. While China calls the uninhabited island the Huangyan island, Philippines calls it Scarborough Shoal.
The navies of the two countries has had a stand-off in the disputed area over the past several weeks.
Earlier in the day, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Liu Weimin, said that the concerned island was an "inherent territory" of China and Philippines should accept its jurisdiction over it.
"The Huangyan island is China's inherent territory. There is no such an issue like referring it to international court or international arbitration," Liu Weimin told a media briefing here.
"The involvement of international agency in the issue of territorial sovereignty or maritime interests and rights should follow procedures and regulations. Playing up wishfully will not solve the current situation," he said, reacting to Philippines' call to accept international arbitration.
Philippines, that calls the uninhabited island as Scarborough Shoal, has already approached the International Court of Justice in Hague.
The navies of the two countries has had a stand-off in the disputed area over the past several weeks.
Liu said China's claim is based on the fact that it is the earliest country to discover and name it, besides exercising sovereignty over it.
He said Philippines had not objected to Chinese claims until 1997 and has even said the island is outside its territorial jurisdiction.
Its only claim that the island has formed a part of the Exclusive Economic Zone is not justified by any international law and does not comply with any UN convention of law of the seas, he said.
The Philippines said today that it would seek more US military help and wants the United States to help it achieve a "credible" defence system.
China and Russia, too, are holding joint exercises in the Yellow Sea off China coast.
Unlike other countries, China has no active Coast Guard, while its navy functioned with in the contours of the People's Liberation Army, (PLA) which included army, air force and navy.
A number of maritime agencies with ships of their own operated in different areas.
As SCS disputes flared up, defence anaylysts have been calling for the formation of a Coast Guard to operate under an integrated command.
Besides disputes with several ASEAN countries over a host of islands in SCS, China is locked in a protracted dispute with Japan over gas rich islands in the Pacific Ocean.
About the aircraft carrier, Geng said previous sea trials have achieved expected results and more research tests will be carried out.
As per the previous plans the carrier is expected to be ready by August this year. It is capable of homing 30 Chinese- made J-15 jet fighters and helicopters and will have a crew of around 2,000. PTI |
