The Philippine president has signed a law affirming sovereignty over islands also claimed by China and Vietnam, an official said Wednesday, sparking protests over the control of strategic South China Sea islands. The legislation, signed Tuesday by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, reaffirms Philippine sovereignty over the more than 7,100 islands in its archipelago, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said.
It also claims outlying islands in the Spratly chain and Scarborough Shoal _ two regions in the South China Sea. China claims sovereignty over both chains. Vietnam and others have long laid claim to the Spratlys. ``We are sending the message to the whole world that we are affirming our national sovereignty ... our national interest, Ermita told a news conference.
The Chinese Embassy issued a statement expressing its ``strong opposition and solemn protest over the signing of the law, and insisted China ``has indisputable sovereignty over these islands and their adjacent waters. Earlier, Chinas Foreign Ministry summoned a Philippine Embassy official to protest the passage of the bill in the Philippine Congress.
Vietnam also urged the Philippines to refrain from taking action that might complicate the dispute. Foreign Affairs official Henry Bensurto said the Philippines passed the law not to reiterate its claims over the Spratlys and Scarborough Shoal but to define the baseline used to determine its extended continental shelf. The UN has asked the Philippines and other countries that signed the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea to submit the dimensions of their claimed continental shelf by May 13. The convention, which came into force in 1994, defines the maritime limits of its signatories. The Spratlys, believed to be rich in oil, gas and fish, consist of about 100 barren islets, reefs and atolls dotting the worlds busiest shipping lanes in the South China Sea. Vietnam, China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei each claim all or part of the low-lying islands.
Comments
Comments are closed.