By Gloria Jane Baylon
China continues with its position of "committing to diplomatic consultations" with the Philippines over the disputed Scarborough Shoal and asked that Manila "send a clear and consistent message" along that tack, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at a recent press conference in Beijing.
The text of Hong's statement was relayed to Philippine media by the Chinese embassy in Manila, through its political officer and spokesperson, Zhang Hua.
Once again citing China's historical sovereignty over what is known to the Chinese as Huangyan Dao and Bajo de Masinloc to the Philippines, Hong sidestepped any suggestion at the press conference of third-party "meddling" in the dispute.
Specifically mentioned by the questioning journalist was Russia, a major China ally and a co-permanent member of the powerful United Nations Security Council.
Instead, Hong told journalists: "…China's position of committing to diplomatic consultation to address the current situation remains unchanged. We hope that the Philippine side will work towards the same direction with the Chinese side, take China's concerns seriously, return to the correct path of diplomatic solution and hence send a clear and consistent message."
The questioner wanted China's reaction to reports that "Russia had recently expressed that its opposition to meddling in the Huangyan Island issue by countries which are not parties to it."
The questioner was apparently alluding to the fact that China's sole tack on territorial disputes is bilateral diplomatic talks with the Philippines.
On the other hand, Manila posits not only a diplomatic route but also a multilateral approach through, for example, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the international law-based mode via the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).
Amid Manila's stand-off with Beijing on Bajo de Masinloc, the Department of Foreign Affairs cites US commitment to defend the Philippines under the Mutual Defense Treaty.
At the same press conference, Hong was asked China's reaction to an attempt by retired Filipino military man, Nicanor Faeldon, to sail to the Scarborough late last week and plant the Philippine flag.
Faeldon later claimed he abandoned his plans because of a direct personal plea from President Benigno Aquino III via telephone. Aquino purportedly told him not to add to the heat of the debate on the dispute.
"We have also taken notice of the reports," Hong responded, adding that "the Chinese side will remain highly vigilant on the island and obstruct any provocative behavior."
Meanwhile, Armed Forces spokesperson, Col. Arnulfo Burgos, said in a text message to the Philippines News Agency that "there is no truth" to a newspaper report about a botched attempt by the Philippine navy to shoo off Chinese fishermen out of Scarborough on April 8.
The Information Office of China's Ministry of Defense also corrected a Philippine media report that China was sending five warships to waters near the Philippines.
That was a "recent drill by a naval fleet of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) in the West Pacific waters," the Ministry said. "It is a regular training program included in its annual plan, not aimed at any particular country or target."
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