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China’s reclamation on Mabini Reef.One threat involves the seizure of territory from our homeland while the other involves the carving of a homeland out of our territory.These two divergent threats converged on the same day, March 19, when 20 Philippine senators in Manila issued a Mamasapano report which undermined Pres. Aquino’s proposed peace agreement with a Filipino Muslim group seeking to create a Bangsamoro homeland within the Philippines, while in Washington DC, four US senators wrote a letter to the US secretaries of State and Defense to denounce China for its invasive land reclamation activities within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Philippines.Remarkably, these US senators are four more than the total number of Philippine senators who have denounced China’s invasion of Philippine territory. Not a single Philippine senator has stood up on the Senate floor to condemn China’s massive land reclamation of Philippine territories in the West Philippine Sea growing 11-fold: 28 acres (114,000 square meters) in Burgos Reef (Gaven Reef); 25 acres in Mabini Reef (Johnson Reef) and increasing Kagitingan Reef (Fiery Cross Reef).They are not swayed by the fact that, in a nationwide poll conducted by Social Weather Station (SWS) from December 2013 through January 2014, “an overwhelming majority of Filipinos (93 percent) back the government’s efforts to defend the national territory” against China.That’s right folks, the only senators willing to criticize China for invading Philippine territory are in Washington, DC. In their letter, the four US senators (John McCain, Robert Melendez, Jack Reed and Bob Corker) expressed grave concern about China’s land reclamation and construction in the West Philippine Sea. “While other states have built on existing land masses, China is changing the size, structure and physical attributes of land features themselves. This is a qualitative change that appears designed to alter the status quo in the South China Sea,” they wrote.“It is our understanding that the majority of this work has been completed in the past twelve months alone, and if current build-rates proceed, China could complete the extent of its planned reclamation in the coming year,” the letter added.What is China building on these newly created islands?
According to James Hardy, Asia Pacific Editor of IHS Jane’s Defence Weekly, a publication specializing in military affairs, “Where it used to have a few small concrete platforms, it now has full islands with helipads, airstrips, harbors and facilities to support large numbers of troops. We can see that this is a methodical, well-planned campaign to create a chain of air and sea capable fortresses across the center of the Spratly Islands chain.”Threat to national securityThe Philippines first learned of China’s massive land reclamation activity when its Philippine Air Force plane noticed significant reclamation activity in the Mabini Reef while searching for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane in February of 2014. In the span of one year since then, the shoals of Mabini Reef now contain an airstrip and port facilities on 25 acres of land.Former National Security Adviser Roilo Golez posted the Chinese corporation’s designs for the islands on his blog and warned about the dangers posed to Philippine national security and to ASEAN stability if China completes its military installation in Mabini Reef. In an interview on ANC, Golez said:“You can see this is probably a mile-long airstrip. It’s almost like an airport, …there’s a dock for ships. I understand it can support and resupply frigates. But what is very threatening is that mile-long strip because now they can base their fighters there. I’m looking at, for example, a J-11 fighter jet made in China that has a range of 2000 miles… So it can threaten all our vital military installations including the installations we can make available under EDCA.”EDCA is the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the US and the Philippines, which will allow the U.S. military to have access to Philippine bases across the Philippines archipelago for a 10-year term “on a temporary and rotational basis.” The Philippine government views the presence of these U.S. troops as deterrence to China’s territorial ambitions.Philippine senators have been quick to denounce EDCA for violating the Philippine Constitution, which prohibits the establishment of foreign military bases in the Philippines. But none of them have denounced China for installing as many as eight military bases on Philippine soil.Why are these Philippine elected officials so fearful of criticizing China?Many of these senators fear that they may not be able to visit China. More importantly, these politicians rely on the financial support of Chinese-Filipino (“Chinoy”) taipans. Among the top Chinoy billionaires are Henry Sy, Lucio Tan, Andrew Tan, John Gokongwei, Jr., Tony Tan Caktiong, Ben Chan, Edgar Injap Sia and Ramon Ang. They own the largest corporations in the Philippines from SM to Jollibee.Many of them have billions of dollars of investments in China such as the Eton Hotel in Shanghai, which is owned by Lucio Tan. Due to their heavy investments in China, these taipans will be very receptive to any “suggestions” from the Chinese government as to which Philippine candidates to support or not support.China called Aquino’s bluffIn his 2011 State of the Nation Address (SONA), Pres. Aquino warned China: “Our message to the world is clear: what is ours is ours. Setting foot on Recto Bank is no different from setting foot on Recto Avenue,” he said.But apparently, setting foot on Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc), Mabini Reef, Burgos Reef, Kagitingan Reef and other reefs in the West Philippine Sea is not the same as setting foot on Recto Bank.All the Philippine government has done in response to China’s invasive acts has been to file an arbitration claim before the United Nations International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) arguing that China, a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), should recognize that the EEZ of each country is 200 nautical miles of the country’s land base belongs to that country.But China has chosen to ignore the ITLOS claim before the U.N., and the claim will not be decided until April of 2016. In the meantime, China is furiously completing its massive land reclamation of the Philippine shoals in the West Philippine Sea.What China understands is that under UNCLOS, “islands” carry more significance than “rocks.” Holders of “islands” gain an Exclusive Economic Zone, which confers key rights within 200 nautical miles of the coastline, including exclusive access to energy exploration.
This is the method to the madness. What were once just rocks protruding in the sea have been transformed by China into islands which they claim to own based on centuries’ old maps and on a “nine dash line map” drawn by a Kuomintang general in 1947.The Philippines insists these shoals – despite their island transformations – are still just a combination of rocks and “low-tide elevations”, which carry fewer privileges and significance in UNCLOS.Ph will soon be in China’s EEZProfessor Richard Heydarian of the International Relations Department at the Ateneo de Manila University believes that China is changing the facts on the ground by reclaiming and occupying disputed waters and land features.“The way China looks at this is, down the road, they have to face the legal opinion arbitration. And if you look at the recent trends in international arbitration, they give priority and prerogative to the countries who continue to establish and exercise effective and continuous sovereignty. If China will be able to build structures there, and they turn these structures into islands and project into 200 nautical mile economic zone, somehow they’ll be able to argue this legally.”China stationed two hydrographic ships in Recto Bank in August 2014 and has ignored demands by Pres. Aquino to withdraw its invading ships immediately as Recto Bank is only 80 miles from Palawan well within the 200 mile EEZ of the Philippines. Recto Bank reportedly has 50 billion barrels of oil and 16.612 trillion cubic feet of natural gas underneath it, enough to fuel China’s energy needs for the next century.The only Philippine military presence near the Recto Bank is a small detachment of Philippine marines stationed on a grounded ship, the Sierra Madre, by Ayungin Reef which is the gateway to the Recto Bank. China has surrounded the Ayungin Reef with at least six ships blocking Philippine Navy access to the Sierra Madre. Employing this “cabbage strategy,” China sees itself occupying the Ayungin within a year.Once China completes making Chinese “islands” out of the Philippine shoals, China will soon claim that Recto Bank is within its EEZ. After that, China will make the same claim for Palawan and the rest of the Philippines will follow.By then, the contentious issue of whether Bangsamoro is a homeland within the territory of the Philippines will be moot.Perhaps by then, one Philippine senator will stand up to denounce China.(Send comments to Rodel50@gmail.com or mail them to the Law Offices of Rodel Rodis at 2429 Ocean Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94127 or call 41.334.7800).RELATED STORIES
Read more: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/120236/cowardly-senators/#ixzz3W1Es8cNqFollow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebooksiling_labuyo • 8 minutes ago
What is good about this is the opposition to EDCA by several Senators is not gonna hold water anymore in Congressional debates. We will have Edca most likely because of this rapid reclamation of China in an area of the sea that is just a little over 100 miles from our coast and about 800 miles away from China. Edca is good for our national security because China has already entered our 200-mile economic jurisdiction that is based on the rules that was ratified by the United Nations Organization.
sambatangan • 9 minutes ago
Our Filipino Senators definitely know that it is against their personal interest to denounce Communist China. Expecting them to do otherwise is illogical. On the contrary, the US Senators are not shy to express their views on world affairs. These American Senators have no fear at all!
amelius23 • 28 minutes ago
Something to ponder with. Quote"The Filipinos can do it alone? Transform both Bajo de Masinloc and Ayungin Shoals as UN sanctioned marine sanctuaries?? The Phil. Navy and PHil Coast Guard can form a flotilla of old and decrepit ships and barges from their inventories or the private sectors, sail them full speed and beached them or sink them within the confines of Bajo de Masinloc and Ayungin shoals waters and other disputed islands, reefs and shoals at West Phil. Sea which are directly coming in the EEZ of the Phil. and qualify as Phil. territories with the purpose of the beached or sunk ships and barges will serve as new homes for abundant fish varieties later on that can provide marine foods not only for Filipinos but also for all other fishermen of other countries whose entries to the marine sanctuaries within the Phil. EEZ will be regulated by a coalition of UN approved coalition naval and coast guard forces. Parang pag aari sa isang lupa na nilalagyan ng "mojon tanda na ikaw ang may ari ng lupa. Itong mga scrap vessels at barges ay pipinturahan ng Phil. flag both port and stb side, palubugin sa ating kinikilalang mga teritoryo sa West Phil. Sea na mag sisilbi na "mojon" at pag kikilalang atin ang mga kwestunableng islands, shoals at reefs. Sa totoo lang ito lang po ang pwede nating gawin dahil wala naman po tayong sapat na sandatang militar para komprontahin ng harap harapan ang mga Intsik sa ating sariling mga teritoryo. Sana mabasa po ito ni Cong. Acedilo at dating DILG Sec. Raffy .Alunan III para pangunahan nag pag lunsad ng OPLAN Rainbow Mojon"'Unquote.
Randz Gal • 28 minutes ago
coward nga talaga mga senador ng Pilipinas...hahahaha..kaya lang nila gawin e criticize ang Presidente ng sarili nilang bansa, ang Pilipinas.....mga bopol.
boypalaban Randz Gal • 24 minutes ago
nagmana lang sila sa duwag at puro palusot na presidenteng dyosaanyway...ginamit mo ang 2nd at 3rd na palusot ng dyosa fans:"Kasalanan na naman ba ni Pnoy yan?"
"Ikaw kaya mag-presidente?"
"At sino ipapalit mo, si BInay?"
"Move on na..."
"HIntayin na lang ang 2016"
"Binay-aran ka ano?"
Some_Other • 37 minutes ago
The only thing stopping China from totally annexing the Philippines is the threat of the USA invading them in the name of democracy and freedom for the oppressed. The USA is neck deep in China loans so it is in their interest to wage war with China should the latter exceed its current expansion goals. The conquest of the Spratlys is not enough a reason for the USA to take care of China like it did with Afghanistan and Iraq. So until such time that China actually sets foot on recognized (not disputed) territories of the Philippines no help will be forthcoming.
So what is the plan of the Philippine government until such time? We already filed with the ITLOS, but it is well known that the judgment of that tribunal is without force and effect if the other party refuses to recognize it. If the Philippines wins in that avenue but unable to enforce it, now what? Justice Carpio once gave a masterful exposition in dealing with the crisis in the West Philippines Sea/ South China Sea (name is irrelevant). The only solution is for the Philippines to buffer up its military might specially the navy and air force which are both sorely lacking until this time. It is the only way to really defend these territories from unwanted invasions and excursions.
As for my part, let's also call the bluff of China and start doing what NoKor has done to remain relevant. Develop long range missile capabilities and nuclear arms. 100M v more than 1B, who has more to lose if we incinerate each other to oblivion?
JSab • an hour ago
Calling PDI's senate reporters. Can we have the bravest rebuttal from one (or more) of our senators tomorrow. I'll make my coffee ready for sen miryam's smirking and "everybody's stupid except me" response, sen al cayetano and sen chiz the wiz smart alecky condemnation of this article. kung pwede, sen g poe "ultimately responsible" kind of conclusion. O baka si sen lito the bandido pa ang makasagot ng matapang dyan? Ika nga sa amin, ito ay malaking sampal sa pagkatao na kailangang sagutin. Mabuhay ka Mr. Rodel Rodis isa kang guerero.
siling_labuyo • an hour ago
Nice straightforward statement of facts. The author is making great points here. His concern for the rapid unfolding development in the West Philippines Sea might put us at disadvantageous position in not a so distant future should lead us not to take things for granted. He has true patriotism. He has a reason to be persuasive. I hope to hear some plan of action from some of our lawmakers who hasn't given their point of view yet on China's construction work inside our EEZ.
Anti-Walang Hiya Fan Page (Off • an hour ago
Mahabaging Maykapal, bakit nyo po kami isinumpa sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay sa amin ng mga walang silbi, makasarili, magnanakaw at mga walang utak na pinuno?Anong nangyayari sa aking bayang sinilangan?
GMGuerrero • an hour ago
Well, maybe the PH should just wait until its government is taken over by China and then just leave the fighting to the Moros, MILF or whatever they call themselves.OR maybe leave it to China to kill our corrupt politicians. The poor have nothing to lose and the PH has legions of them. Maybe China will do a better job of feeding them.
GMGuerrero • an hour ago
Filipino votes are for sale in the Philippines. Filipinos in the US do not vote. Poor Filipinas.Does anyone remember what happened in Indonesia years ago, when the Indonesians went on a killing, looting, and raping rampage against its ethnnic Chinese and the streets were literally flooded with blood?Is it possible the same would happen to the Taipans? Maybe not, they can buy the AFP too.
mangtom GMGuerrero • 41 minutes ago
You say "Filipinos in the US do not vote". Are you nuts? Any US citizen, Fil-Am, Chinese-Am, Indian=Am or any citizen can vote. Stop spreading lies. Or, you can be excused because you are ignorant.
goaguldbowman • an hour ago
Relax lang kayo. hintayin nyo ang privilege speech ng mga philippine senators.
alan cayetano ---> doing research pa by watching war movies.
Ben • 2 hours ago
see moreSenators who have direct responsibility on this eroding affair:
Senator :Ferdinand Marcos Jr.................Public WorksRalph Recto .......................Science and TechnologySonny angara ...........................WAYS AND MEANSGrace Poe.............................Joint Oversight Committee on the Human Security Act.M. Santiago/A. Trillanes....................Legislative Oversight Committee on the VFAANTONIO TRILLANES..........Congressional Committee on the AFP ModernizationANTONIO TRILLANES.......Select Oversight committee on Intel and Confidential fundsANTONIO TRILLANES......NATIONAL DEFENSE AND SECURITYMiriam Santiago.................FOREIGN RELATIONSThese are the people who holds the key to our survival, or demise. Ferdinand Marcos can sponsor public works in Kalayaan territory.Trillanes made possible the pull out of our PCG out of Scarborough shoal and now China effectively evicted us out. Miriam instead of working with the US to strengthen our security, many times threatened to dissolve the VFA. Grace Poe, the new kid on the block holding human security act. Ways and Means- held by Sonny Angara, supposed ot be the most powerful committee to bring about funding for anything, and there is the science and technology supposed to be our saving grace of our all powerful senate. Look who held so much committees related to our security? whom gave away Scarborough and made any resource person in senate to kill himself? so if Scarborough was given then in Trillanes care, anything in Kalayaan will also be given away by trillanes that`s how he loves this country. One person holding all security committees, rest the very survival of this country, might also be compromised already by China`s influence since he too is silent in what is going on in our territorial integrity, and not even preparing for our survival...
Filimon Francisco • 2 hours ago
OUR GOVT INSTEAD IS FOCUSING ON BBL / MILF....THIS PRESIDENT AQUINO AND HIS FAMILY IS A BIG MISTAKE....NO WONDER. THE LATE AQUINO WAS JAILED BY MARCOS...THE AQUINOS CAN NEVER BE TRUSTED...WE ARE SOLD OUT BY THE PROPAGANDAS OF THIS FAMILY. ...WE IN MINDANAO ABHORS / REGRET TMUCH OF PUTTING NINOY AQUINO AS PRESIDENT. ..AFTERALL HE'S STUNTS ARE ABNORMAL...AND LEADING A PAMPERED LIFE THAT IS MORE OF A GAY CHARACTER AND HIS SUPPORTERS ARE TRYING THEIR BEST TO MAKE HIM LOOK GOOD....NOW THE TRUTH PREVAILS...AQUINO IS UN PATRIOTIC. AND TRAITOR TO THE NATION...
THE AQUINOS WERE INSTRUMENTAL TO MALAYDIA AND CHINA IN THE DESTRUCTION OF THE COUNTRY....
Roger Chua Filimon Francisco • 2 hours ago
Diyosmiyo. Yan lang masabi ko sa yo. This is the only government that has stood up against china. GMA almost sold out the whole of South Phil Sea, alam mo ba yun??
boypalaban Roger Chua • 21 minutes ago
1st & 2nd na palusot:"Kasalanan na naman ba ni Pnoy yan?"
"Ikaw kaya mag-presidente?"
"At sino ipapalit mo, si BInay?"
"Move on na..."
"HIntayin na lang ang 2016"
"Binay-aran ka ano?"
batangpaslit • 2 hours ago
patriotic soundings, eh, Rodil?
let us collect all Kumpit to form into a naval frigate
let us make more Sarangola as our fighter planes
let us plant more bamboos, cut it and sharpen them as our missiles
sulong mga Kapatid....makibaka, huwag matakot
hahaha...
bubuli Roger Chua • an hour ago
THE POINT IS ALL TALK NO ACTION MAKES NO SENSE... THI THI KONG WEH BO TONG YONG.... LOL...
GilArellano • 2 hours ago
Mr Rodis why don't you come home and lead the country to fight the chinese or better ask Obama to stand up for the Philippines...
white_buffalo_95503 GilArellano • an hour ago
if you want us to die for you why dont you lead the way. you kicked us out now want us back to die for you, while you sit back and watch. why dont you stand up for yourselves? i dont see anyone here doing a dam thing but rant at us
tangnaunlimited • 2 hours ago
tangna....di sila pwedeng mag salita...takot lang nila na baka ma BAN sila sa HONGKONG o CHINA...saka walang PDAF doon...hakhakhakk....TANGNAULIT
Hellomr • 3 hours ago
Most especially to renato of red communist they'll the ones always making rally infront of US embassy. But never to China .........
Hellomr • 3 hours ago
These stupid senators of ours are all against US but they'll favored China instead.....so they don't mind China taking advantaged of the situation.
jgl41456 • 3 hours ago
Not one senator stood up to denounce China because many of them were busy plundering their PDAF!
boshog • 3 hours ago
We really have no power to face China. The US influence denounce by many morons is our only chance, but a weak country and corrupt country like ours is rife for a takeover. Soon we will be Malaysia or China.
Dominic Spencer Mario_Garcia • 2 hours ago
But, that isn't the PH's. The Sultan of Sulu ceded it to the Spanish, who relinquished it to the British North Borneo Company, which eventually passed into the Crown, and of course, Malaysia, which was formed from an alliance of ex-British colonies, so they inherited it from Britain. Furthermore the Sultan's son, reaffirmed that it was British territory after the Sultan died, and, when the Americans took over the PH from the Spanish, they too, acknowledged that the region was British.Malaysia isn't claiming any other parts of the PH.
butsokoypasaw • 4 hours ago
Nothing a Philippine Senator can do except issuing a non-binding Resolution to that effect. . it is the President as Commander-in-Chief and head of state who's supposed to do the initiative to deputize all agencies including the AFP to protect our land. . the author of this article show his bias. . halatang sipsip kay Pnoy that he is inclined to bark on the wrong tree. . . he should address his concerns to the President who, for unknown reasons, slept on the issue despite reports from Golez and the Coast Guard. . God forbids, like the impending sell out of Mindanao, businessmen close to this President might have had already cooked up something with the Chinese.
think please butsokoypasaw • 4 hours ago
Your opinion proves that you dont actually use ur brain cells either its genetic or malfunctioning. If u use ur frontal lobe in the right context, the author wants these senators to support arbitration of the Philippines to the UN led by the DFA which is part of PNoy's cabinet, and PUBLICLY DENOUNCE china's illegal reclamation to legit Philippine islands and waters.
butsokoypasaw think please • 3 hours ago
Nakadyot ba ego mo Rodis? pa "think please, think please" pa ang username mo, masyado kasing twisted ang tumbok mo kaya halatang nag sisipsip ka lang kay Pnoy. .
deadswitch • 4 hours ago
What do you expect of Philippine politicians ?Kung maliit ang kalaban akala mo kung sino ang matapang.
boytalakitok • 5 hours ago
hinde pagkakwartahan yan ng mga kupal. astig......................bweeeeeeeeeee
aymokay • 5 hours ago
Ang tagal ko na hinihintay na may tumayong senador laban sa ginagawa ng China pero wala talaga. Mga bulok talaga, magagaling lang sa diskusyon pero walang pagmamahal sa bayan
Jose Ramon Philip Genona • 5 hours ago
Pag nasimulan na ang giyera, diyan nyo na malaman kung ano ba talaga ang katapangan ng Pinoy....sige lang
aymokay Jose Ramon Philip Genona • 4 hours ago
Di natin pinag uusapan giyera dto, kundi kung anung paghahanda ginagawa ng bansa kung magkagiyera. Wala tayong ginagawang paghahanda tulad ng pagbili ng vital military hardwares dahil walang senador na tumatayo para sa mga mamamayan. Mahirap ang giyera pero paano kung duon mauwi itong prublemang ito, kawawa tayo dahil.walang ginagawang paghahanda ang mga senador natin. Bakit sila? Dahil nasa kapangyarihan nila bilang.bahagi ng kongreso ang pagbibibigay ng budget sa anu mang nais nating pagkagastusan tulad ng pagbili ng mga armas
oldmatterthunder • 5 hours ago
GIYERA NA! DITO MALALAMAN KUNG ANG MGA PILIPINO MAY PAGMAMAHAL SA BANSANG PILIPINAS O WALA!
JUANITO RAMOS fr BULACAN oldmatterthunder • an hour ago
THIS IS WAR WE ARE DAVID TO BOMB AND DEFEAT GOLIATH ?
boypalaban flordelino • 19 minutes ago
1ST, 2ND 3RD na palusot:"Kasalanan na naman ba ni Pnoy yan?"
"Ikaw kaya mag-presidente?"
"At sino ipapalit mo, si BInay?"
"Move on na..."
"HIntayin na lang ang 2016"
"Binay-aran ka ano?"
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