EDITORIAL

US To Help If Spratly Row Worsens

Sen. Chiz Escudero cautioned Malacanang against invoking the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) in the territorial dispute with the Beijing government without carefully studying its provisions in the light of a statement by a Palace aide who said last week that Washington will help the country should the row over the Spratly Islands worsens.

The Philippines has been engaged in a word-war with Chinese officials for the past months over several confrontations with Filipinos in the potentially oil-rich group of islands, which is also being claimed in part by Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan.
"I urge Palace officials to carefully review the MDT and read through its fine prints and get confirmations from the US government through its ambassador if indeed this situation is covered or what the limitations there may be to the application of the MDT from the point of view of the US government," Escudero suggested.

He bats for pursuing and exhausting all diplomatic remedies in the contested islands, also urged Malacanang to assign the Department of Foreign Affairs as the lead agency in discussing this in public "instead of the Palace through its spokesperson in order to avoid any faux pas on our part."

"Any issue or conflict must be resolved through peaceful and diplomatic avenues as stipulated in the ASEAN Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Seas," the senator pointed out.

According to　Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr., the military is careful not to provoke open hostilities in the Spratlys but is keeping an "active defense posture." Oban admitted though in another statement that the country can do little if China resorted to force to lay its claim on the territory and remained "hopeful that the Americans will not stand aside should the conflict erupts and that they can invoke the MDT with the US." US Ambassador Harry Thomas, while calling for the full implementation of the 2002 Declaration of Conduct between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, however, appealed in Iloilo City for calm and said that Washington takes no side on this issue as stated by US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Escudero said that while the country is very well within its rights to protect and defend its territories when bullied, the government should exercise caution in resorting to other measures other than diplomacy.

The Philippine navy reported it had removed foreign markers installed on three reefs and banks in disputed areas of the West Philippine Sea. The wooden posts were removed in May just before the Philippines protested alleged incursions of the Chinese navy in Philippines territorial waters. Lt. Col. Omar Tonsoy reported.

Even Manila has accused Beijing of putting posts and a buoy in Philippines claimed waters, the Philippine Navy has not determine who placed the wooden posts. The markers were all posted on Iroquois Bank, Recto Bank and Boxall Reef, all on the West Philippine Sea.

The Philippines also accused China of undermining peace and stability in Asia by sending naval vessels near the Recto Bank to allegedly intimidate rival claimants, install posts and buoy. The Chinese Navy also allegedly open fired on Filipino Fishermen and intimidated a Philippine oil exploration ship.

But the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hong Lei announced, Beijing does not intend to employ force in the Spratly controversy.

Palace spokesperson Edwin Lacierda emphasized both on the part of China and the Philippines the need for diplomacy and a peaceful solution to the Spratly dispute.
China today will use diplomacy but in the future may change her policy from diplomacy to the use of force. The Philippines must arm herself /MP