China seeks peaceful end to Spratlys row

August 15, 2009
By Llanesca T. Panti, Reporter

Mighty China, the largest of the countries who are claiming parts of islands in the South China Sea, is not in a hurry to settle the territorial dispute over the islands also known as the Spratlys.

Liu Jianchao, the Chinese ambassador to the Philippines, on Friday said that China is for peace and security, and as such, is looking beyond the Spratlys issue.

The Spratlys, a chain of atolls and reefs, is believed to sit atop vast mineral and oil deposits. Apart from China and the Philippines, it is also being claimed in whole or in part by Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.

“We do not want to complicate the situation and we don’t want to tie our hands up on the issue,” Liu said during a press conference held at the Café Havana in Greenbelt 3 in Makati City. “Instead, we are looking for cooperation in various fields.”

According to the ambassador, the Philippines is “a very important economic partner for China.” He noted that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), of which the Philippines is a member, is now China’s third-largest trading partner. Asean also groups Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Liu said that China will never use its military power to settle territorial disputes.

He also noted that China shares 4,300 kilometers of borders with Russia, and has settled border issues with Vietnam. “We settled territorial disputes thru peaceful means in the past, and that’s how we will always do it.”

Liu argued that it is just natural for Beijing to strengthen its defensive capabilities since China is a very big country that shares borders with many countries.

“We can’t protect our country with shields, knives and other stuff like that. We have to spend money to enhance the capability of our soldiers and make them lead a better life thru better pay as well,” he pointed out.

China’s improvement of its defenses, according to Liu, also contributes to improving global security, since they are also sending ships to the vast seas to protect Chinese cargo ships and the vessels of other nations as well.

“As long as the countries continue to resolve this [Spratlys issue] peacefully and work together for development, there will be very little chance of conflict,” he said.

Liu revealed that Filipino companies are doing well in investing in China, with the amount of Philippine business ventures in China reaching $2.6 billion, or P117 billion in 2008.

But what Manila lacks, according to the envoy, are efforts to promote the Philippines as a tourist destination because of its beauty and hospitality.

“That’s why the media should be careful [in their reporting], because crimes, kidnapping and shooting incidents [in the Philippines] have an effect [on Chinese travelers],” he said, adding that the country should also consider lowering hotel and transportation rates.