China strengthens control over Huangyan Island

 

China.org.cn, May 24, 2012

China has strengthened controls in the Huangyan Island waters in response to the provocative actions of the Philippines, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said on Wednesday.

A file photo of China's most advanced fisheries patrol ship Yuzheng 310. The vessel reached the waters off Huangyan Island on April 20 and conducted law enforcement in the area. [Liang Ganghua/Xinhua]

Hong rejected some Philippine media reports that?China had sent nearly 100 vessels to the waters.

He?said that there are currently about 20 Chinese fishing boats, roughly the same number as in previous years,?operating in the Huangyan Island waters.

"The operating manners of the fishing boats is consistent with China's relevant laws as well as China's fishing moratorium orders," he added.

China has been implementing a summer fishing moratorium from May 16 to August 1 in some parts of the South China Sea, as a routine annual measure to rehabilitate marine resources.

China and the Philippines have been embroiled in a dispute over Huangyan Island in the South China Sea for a month, stemming from Philippine harassment of Chinese fishermen who sought harbor at the island from bad weather.

The Philippines?has been attempting?to buy weapons abroad. According to media reports, the United States will deliver a retired Hamilton class cutter to Manila. This will be the second Hamilton class cutter Manila has obtained from the US.

The first one, also retired from the US, arrived in the Philippines last year, giving the Philippine navy its largest and most advanced warship.

Moreover, Philippine President Benigno Aquino told media outlets that Manila intends to buy a batch of jets ranging in price from $4 million to $8 million.

Albert del Rosario, Philippine foreign affairs secretary, said some other countries are helping Manila establish a "minimum credible defense posture" to complement its diplomatic capacity to deal with territorial disputes with China.

He said Japan is likely to provide 12 patrol ships, while the Philippines is considering entering into plane deals with South Korea. The Philippines are also likely to obtain some search and rescue ships from Australia and have a large number of military personnel trained there.

The Aquino administration has spent $395 million on the country's military since it took office in 2010. In the 15 years up to that, Manila spent $51 million on average.

China holds undisputable sovereignty over Huangyan Island. China has been trying to solve the dispute and ease the tension through diplomatic consulations with the Philippine side.?

And China opposes any third party to get?involved in the Huangyan Island dispute. "The Philippine decision to draw a third party into the incident in any way will further escalate the situation and even change the nature of the issue," Hong Lei?warned on Tuesday.??