Dear int-boundary colleagues:
Please find enclosed for your information a press release issued by
the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines. Also enclosed are
three files showing the artificial transformation of Mischief Reef, a rock
under the provisions of article 121 of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the
Sea, into an artificial island by the People's Republic of China. These
pictures were taken in May 1995 and October 1998, but please note that the
oct98 pictures are two angles of the same structure.
Mischief Reef is located in the South China Sea off the West coast
of the Philippines (approx 167 nautical miles from Palawan) and is part of
the Kalayaan Island Group.
Best regards,
Emma R. Sarne
Foreign Service Institute
-----------------------------
Press Release 6 November 1998
Undersecretary Leonides T. Caday of the Department of Foreign Affairs
summoned Ambassador Guan Dengming of the Embassy of the People's
Republic of China in Manila yesterday 5 November 1998 and handed over a
Note Verbale protesting the activities being undertaken on the illegal
structures in Panganiban Reef (internationally called "Mischief Reef")
by personnel on board PRC vessels that are escorted by PRC navy ships.
Undersecretary Caday stated that such activities were in violation of
the spirit of the Manila ASEAN Declaration on the South China Sea of
1992 as well as the understanding of the agreement reached in
Philippines-China Consultations on the South China of August 1995.
Under the Philippines-China Consultations, both countries agreed that
"efforts must be undertaken to build confidence and trust between the
two parties, to enhance an atmosphere of peace and stability in the
region, and to refrain from using force or threat of force to resolve
disputes."
Undersecretary Caday further expressed that such activities contravenes
the common agreement reached during the ASEAN-China Meeting on 16
December 1997 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was expressly stated in the
Joint Statement issued by the Meeting of the Heads of State/Government
of the Member States of ASEAN and the President of the People's Republic
of China that "In the interest of promoting peace and stability as well
as enhancing mutual confidence in the region, the parties concerned
agreed to exercise self-restraint and handle relevant differences in a
cool and constructive manner".
He conveyed the demand of the Philippine government that these
activities being undertaken by the Chinese personnel on the illegal
structures built in Panganiban Reef be immediately halted and terminated
and that the dismantling of any repair works, renovations,
reinforcements, fortifications and/or improvements made therein be
effected. At the same time, Undersecretary Caday manifested that the
Philippine Government expressed its optimism that the Chinese Government
would adhere to the spirit of the Manila ASEAN Declaration on the South
China Sea of 1992 and the understanding reached during the
Philippines-People's Republic of China Consultations on the South China
Sea and Other Areas of Cooperation of 1995 and the Meeting of the Heads
of State/Government of the Member States of ASEAN and the President of
the People's Republic of China on 16 December 1997 in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia.
|