Government maintains good relations with China despite territory conflict

Monday, January 30, 2012

AMID growing tensions between the Philippines and China because of its overlapping claims on the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario maintained that the government will continue to observe good relations with the Asian economic powerhouse.

“Our relations with China, as we had said before, should be governed by mutual respect, equality and observance of each other’s sovereignty,” the Foreign Affairs chief said in a statement.

“We are certain that China will fully concur with our stated position,” he added.

On Sunday, China’s nationalist paper Global Times published an editorial urging the Chinese government to impose economic sanctions on the Philippines for allowing the United States more troops on its soil.

It said that China “must respond” to the Philippines plan to establish a minimal defense posture by asking the United States for aid by using its “leverage to cut economic activities” between Manila and other Southeast Asian countries, most of which have overlapping claims on resource-rich Spratly Islands.

It also said that Beijing must think about “cooling down” business links with Manila.

Philippines and the United States last week announced that it has entered into negotiations regarding the boosting of military activities between the two nations to better equip Manila in protecting its claims on the disputed Spratly Islands.

The move was welcomed by the United States who planned to expand its military power in Asia Pacific.

China has yet to officially respond to the announcement since it celebrated a week-long holiday for the Lunar New Year. (CVB/Sunnex)