Noy lashes back at Chinese media

By Aurea Calica (The Philippine Star) | Updated February 8, 2014

MANILA, Philippines - Insulting him and calling him names are not the way to defend China’s territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea, President Aquino pointed out yesterday as he lashed back at Chinese media for dodging the issue on the maritime dispute.

Aquino said such an action only affirmed the validity of the Philippines’ claims based on international law and which China could not refute with decent and solid arguments.

In an interview with The New York Times published on Tuesday, Aquino called for more global support for the Philippines over the territorial issue, comparing it to the failure of the West to support Czechoslovakia against Adolf Hitler’s expansionist demands in 1938.

China’s official Xinhua news agency blasted Aquino’s comments late Wednesday, saying Beijing’s claims were backed by a “sound historical foundation” and that the latest reported attack against China “exposed his true color as an amateurish politician who was ignorant both of history and reality.”

Xinhua said Aquino joined the ranks of disgraced Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who created great controversy after comparing Japan-China relations to those between the United Kingdom and Germany in the run-up to the First World War last month at the annual World Economic Forum in Switzerland.

Japan and China are also engaged in a territorial dispute over Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.

Headlines ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

President Aquino said the writer should have focused on arguments that would support China’s position if he himself was convinced that the basis for their claims was good.

“But if we end up name (calling) and hurling insults, it’s like failing to stand up for what you are trying to articulate,” Aquino said. “In that way, I am thankful. If (the writer) purposely insulted me, thank you because you only showed the Philippine position was right.”

The Philippines has decided to go for arbitration before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, but China rejected this move.

Adherence to int’l law

Aquino also welcomed the statement of US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel criticizing Beijing’s so-called nine-dash line.

Russel also called on China to clarify or adjust its territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea in accordance with international law.

Aquino said the Philippines was just hoping that everyone would adhere to international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea that China likewise signed freely.

The UNCLOS established the exclusive economic zones of countries.

“Nobody forced you to be a signatory. China and the Philippines are signatories to the same (agreement). And we are hoping that we all live up to the commitments expressed in a treaty such as that,” Aquino said.

Russel said Washington had growing concerns that China’s maritime claims in the disputed sea were an effort to gain creeping control of oceans in the Asia-Pacific region.

Tough stance backed

Congressmen-allies of President Aquino led by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. supported yesterday his tough stance against China on the West Philippine Sea dispute.

“Definitely we are in full support of President Aquino with respect to our claims in the West Philippine Sea. We will defend our rights, of course,” Belmonte told reporters.

Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. of Dasmariñas City in Cavite said the President was right in comparing China’s rulers with Hitler.

“There is similarity between what happened during World War II and what China is doing to the Philippines right now. China is already using its power and might by exercising acts of dominion over the disputed islands in the West Philippine Sea, including those closer to our country than the Chinese mainland,” he said.

Marikina City Rep. Marcelino Teodoro shared the views of his colleagues, saying the international community should rally behind the Philippines’ rejection of China’s encroachment of the disputed territory.

For Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III, the President should use a different tack in dealing with China.

“The way to go with the Chinese is polite talk in public, but tough in private. Don’t shame them,” he said.

Meanwhile, other administration lawmakers urged the Aquino government to forge security agreements with allied governments to contain China’s aggressiveness in claiming the West Philippine Sea as its territory. – With Paolo Romero, Jess Diaz