PH asks int’l community: Hear us out

Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario (left): Strong push for triple action plan. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The government on Wednesday asked China, claimant countries and the international community to hear out Manila’s triple action plan aimed at freezing activities and easing tension in the disputed South China Sea after Beijing said on Tuesday it would not be stopped from building on the disputed area.

Foreign Secretary Albert Del Rosario is leaving Thursday for Burma to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Ministerial Meeting (AMM) and other related meetings set for Aug. 8 to 10 where he was expected to make a strong push for the triple action plan, which includes a call for a moratorium on activities that escalate tension in the disputed area.

Del Rosario’s bid to push for his triple action plan came as a Chinese official on Tuesday said China could build what it wanted in the disputed area.

Yi Xianlang, deputy head of the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Boundary and Ocean Affairs Departments, said that China had every right to build on its islands as a way of improving living conditions there.

At a press briefing, Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman and Assistant Secretary Charles Jose said “notwithstanding (the Chinese) statement,” Del Rosario will still raise the triple action plan at the AMM in Nay Pyi Taw in Burma (Myanmar).

“So it’s good to hear the proposal first. It’s good for claimant countries, nonclaimant countries and the international community to hear the proposal first and decide on the merits,” Jose said.

Asked whether the plan will work without China’s cooperation and participation, Jose said: “It’s important that China is on board…. China might be convinced, who knows?”