MANILA: China has assured the Philippines it will not occupy new features or territory in the South China Sea, under a new status quo brokered by Manila as both sides try to strengthen their relations, the Philippine defense minister said.
The minister, Delfin Lorenzana, told a congressional hearing that the Philippines and China had reached a “modus vivendi,” or a way to get along, in the South China Sea that prohibits new occupation of islands.
“There is status quo now that is happening in the South China Sea brokered by the secretary of Foreign Affairs,” he told lawmakers late on Monday.
“According to him, the Chinese will not occupy new features in the South China Sea nor they are going to build structures in Scarborough Shoal,” he said, referring to a prime fishing ground close to the Philippines that China blockaded from 2012 to 2016.
“It would be a very serious thing if China will occupy any of the islands.”
Lorenzana did not comment when lawmakers, citing reports from the military, told him five Chinese ships had showed up almost 5 km off the Philippine-held Thitu Island in the Spratly archipelago on Saturday.
Congressman Gary Alejano told Reuters that Chinese fishing boats had blocked a Philippine marine surveillance ship in the area two days ago.
Thitu Island is the largest of nine reefs and shoals the Philippines occupies in the Spratlys.
The military’s public affairs chief, Col. Edgard Arevalo, declined to comment until the armed forces had the “whole picture on the current situation.”
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has berated traditional ally the United States over several issues since he took office just over a year ago, while courting China for its business and investment and avoiding the rows over maritime sovereignty that dogged his predecessors.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a waterway through which about $3 trillion worth of sea-borne trade passes every year. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have conflicting claims in the area.
China has built seven islands upon reefs in disputed areas, three of which, experts say, are capable of accommodating fighter jets. They have runways, radars and surface-to-air missiles which China says are for defense.
One of the manmade islands is Subi Reef, visible some 24 km away by the small community of Filipinos who since the 1970s have lived on Thitu.
Alejano, a former Marine Corps officer who led a failed coup against the government of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2003, urged the government to lodge a diplomatic protest and tell China to leave Philippine territory in the Spratlys.
Philippines says China has agreed no new expansion in South China Sea
Philippines says China has agreed no new expansion in South China Sea
Militants kill four peace committee members in northwestern Pakistan— police
- Victims were businessmen involved with the Peace Committee in its efforts against Pakistani Taliban, says police official
- Development takes a day after six cops were killed in IED blast in northwestern Tank district, signaling surge in militant attacks
ISLAMABAD: Four members of a pro-government peace committee were killed by militants in northwestern Pakistan’s Bannu district on Tuesday, a police official confirmed amid a surge in attacks in the area.
Peace committees in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province bordering Afghanistan comprise tribal elders who publicly oppose militant groups such as the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Members of the peace committee have long been targeted by militants for cooperating with security forces in counterinsurgency operations. These groups were first formed during Pakistan’s 2007–2014 conflict years to help defend villages and report militant movements.
The peace committee members were targeted in an area of Bannu district that falls under the jurisdiction of Huwaid Police Station, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Raza Khan told Arab News. The victims were attacked while they were traveling in a car in the morning.
“All four were businessmen and were actively involved with the Peace Committee in efforts against the Taliban,” Khan said.
According to a police report seen by Arab News, the deceased were identified as Naseeb Ur Rehman, Hamid Naseeb, Ziaullah, while the fourth person was identified as “Fauji.”
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed sorrow over the loss of lives in the attack, a statement by the interior ministry said.
“All conspiracies aimed at undermining peace efforts in KP would be thwarted,” Naqvi said.
He said the nation stands united to foil the nefarious designs of the Pakistani Taliban or TTP militants, reaffirming the government’s commitment to restoring and maintaining peace in the province.
KP has been reeling from a surge in militant attacks in recent months. A day earlier, an improvised explosive device (IED) blast killed six police officers in the province’s Tank district.
No group has claimed responsibility for these attacks. However, the TTP has claimed responsibility for some of the deadliest attacks targeting law enforcement personnel in KP in the past. It has frequently targeted convoys of security forces, police stations and check-posts besides kidnapping government officials in the region.
Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of allowing the use of its soil to armed outfits such as the TTP. It has also alleged that India backs militant groups who carry out attacks against Pakistan. Kabul and New Delhi have consistently denied this.
