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Web-only Exclusives November 30, 2000 From Our Correspondent: Hirohito and the War A conversation with biographer Herbert Bix From Our Correspondent: A Rough Road Ahead Bad news for the Philippines - and some others From Our Correspondent: Making Enemies Indonesia needs friends. So why is it picking fights? |
A BREAKTHROUGH ON THE SPRATLYS
BAD COP, GOOD COP. As Beijing jolted Taiwan last week with talk of new missile tests, it took a more benign line with other neighbors. Early this month, Chinese Foreign Minister Qian Qichen assured ASEAN for the first time that his country was ready to settle disputes about the resources-rich Spratly islands according to international law. China had formerly insisted that historical claims should take precedence. On Aug. 10, the Philippines announced that it had that pledge in writing. "We're the first among the [six] claimant governments to have gone this far," Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon told Asiaweek. "It means we can have serious talks on the sovereignty question."
The breakthrough pact, as Manila calls it, was the result of two days of talks between Qian's deputy, Wang Yingfan, and Philippine Foreign Undersecretary Rodolfo Severino. Beijing agreed to enter into bilateral discussions on the basis, among others, of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Philippines - but not China - has ratified that treaty, which limits the territorial waters of nations within a 12-nautical mile (22.2-km) area and their rights to undersea oil and gas within a 200-nautical mile (370-km) exclusive economic zone. Manila says the Kalayaan group, the portion of the Spratlys it claims, lies within its territorial waters.
The Filipinos are also happy with the Chinese promise to abide by a code of conduct that bans the use of force in the Spratlys. "Essentially this means there will be no more surprises on both sides," says Siazon. In the past, Beijing had reserved the right to use military action to defend territory it claimed in the South China Sea. Siazon also says that China has unofficially indicated it would build no new structures in the disputed area with the Philippines. Tempers flared in February when the Philippines discovered Chinese-installed structures at Mischief Reef, which Manila considers part of Kalayaan.
Yet for all the cosy words, the talks last week in Manila gave some indication of the problems ahead. Wang offered to include fishing rights in the cooperation agreement. Severino balked, fearing it was a ploy to legitimize Chinese incursions into Philippine waters. Filipino troops had arrested 62 Chinese fishermen near Mischief Reef in June. President Fidel Ramos now hints that the men recently convicted on misdemeanor charges may be pardoned.
The Sino-Philippine pact is also a positive development for other claimants, including new ASEAN member Vietnam, which had fought two border wars with China. "Vietnam can ride on the agreement and say 'we want it too'," says Siazon. One government is unlikely to benefit. Taiwan also lays claim to the Spratlys.
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