PH to China: no reclamation but how about construction?

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

The Philippine government on Thursday pointed out that although China claimed that it has halted reclamation in disputed areas of South China Sea, there is no proof that it is telling the truth and that it has also stopped construction and other activities.

Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. pointed out that the Philippines wants “a halt in reclamation, halt in construction and a halt in aggressive actions that could further heighten tensions,” as mentioned earlier by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario.

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Recently, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China has already stopped the reclamation of islands.

Coloma, however, said that the report should be verified.

“Hindi pa tinutukoy ‘yung aspeto ng construction at sabi nga ng ilang observers, second phase ‘yung construction kaya kailangang pigilin din ito, at higit sa lahat dapat pigilin ‘yung lahat ng aksyon na maaaring magpadagdag o magpataas sa tensyon dahil ang pinaniniwalaan natin dito ‘yung kahalagahan ng rules-based at diplomatic approach,” he said.

(We are not yet talking about the aspect of construction and some observers say that the second phase is the construction and it has to be stopped. Most of all, we should stop all actions that may add to or heighten the tension because what we believe in is a rules-based and diplomatic approach.)

Earlier, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) expressed a united view that it wanted China to stop reclaiming land in South China Sea, especially areas also claimed by its member states.

Coloma reiterated the need to agree on a legally binding code of conduct between the Asean and China.

The Philippines has been thumbing down China’s proposal to enter bilateral talks. It has insisted that all parties should be involved.