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The government of China on Wednesday cited “some
recently emerged tendencies” in the Philippines that may lead to a
souring of “friendly relations and mutually beneficial
cooperation” between Beijing and Manila.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila was
referring to the controversy arising from an agreement on a seismic
study of potentially mineral-rich but disputed islands in the South
China Sea.
It, however, insisted that the
tripartite pact among China, the Philippines, and Vietnam resulting
from the seismic study will not alter the fact that Beijing has long
made its stand clear on the Spratly Islands.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila, in
a statement, said the Chinese government’s position on the South
China Sea is “consistent and explicit.”
“China stands for peaceful
resolution of disputes over the South China Sea through friendly
consultation. In order to maintain stability in the South China Sea
and to promote mutually beneficial cooperation, China has put
forward the proposition of ‘shelving disputes and going in for
joint development,’ which serves the common interests of all sides
concerned,” according to the statement.
The embassy said the tripartite
agreement “complies with the principles of the Asean-China
Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and is
conducive to maintenance of peace and stability in the South China
Sea and the region at large.” Asean is the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations, which groups the Philippines, Vietnam,
Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore and
Thailand.
It added that China hopes to make
joint efforts with the Philippines to “properly” handle the
problems related to bilateral cooperation. This approach, the
embassy said, will help maintain cordial relations between the two
countries and safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea
and the Asean.
The statement came after some
Philippine opposition lawmakers recently described the tripartite
agreement as “violation of Philippine sovereignty.”
The Philippine Senate has also
been holding hearings for about half a year on alleged corruption of
the government of President Gloria Arroyo over an official
telecommunications joint project with China’s ZTE Corp. President
Arroyo had scrapped the $330-million national broadband project
because of allegations that it was graft-tainted.
A delegation of senior Chinese
officials is in the Philippines amid allegations of irregularities
in a number of contracts, including the broadband deal, between the
two countries.
Liu Hongcai, a leading official
of the Communist Party of China, on Wednesday told reporters that he
hopes “these small issues will not affect our bilateral ties.”
Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas 2nd,
who said he met with Liu on Tuesday, said the delegation reiterated
Beijing’s policy that “all Chinese firms must strictly abide by
the domestic laws in the countries where they operate.”
The visitors made the assurance
after “frank and cordial” discussions on the broadband deal and
the Spratlys controversy, Roxas added.
Executive Secretary Eduardo
Ermita downplayed the significance of the corruption allegations in
the visit, insisting, “It’s not the real reason why they are
here.”
Mrs. Arroyo has also been accused
of treason over the joint seismic marine study, with the opposition
alleging it infringed on Philippine sovereignty.
The disputed islands in the South
China Sea are claimed in whole or in part by the Philippines, China,
Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei.
Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno,
who also met with Liu’s delegation on Wednesday, said the Chinese
were worried that the Senate investigation of the contract with ZTE
Corp. could affect relations between the two countries.
--Xinhua And AFP
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