Philippines plans protest against China’s Scarborough construction
The Philippines plans to make a strong protest against China’s preparatory work for an environment monitoring station on the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the East Sea.
Scarborough shoal (Source: Telegraph)Hanoi (VNA) - The Philippines plans to make a strong protest against China’s preparatory work for an environment monitoring station on the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the East Sea, Justice Minister Vitaliano Aguirre said on March 21.
The Philippines would file a complaint against the plan China has just announced, Minister Aguirre told press in Manila.
The Philippines would take necessary action to defend and protect the country's sovereignty and entitlements in the disputed maritime borders, Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said.
"President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly asserted that the Philippines is not giving up its claims and entitlements over the area," he reiterated.
When asked on March 19 for his response to the report of a radar station to be built at the Scarborough Shoal, Duterte said: "We cannot stop China."
Until late last year China had two to three coastguard ships guarding the shoal and stopping Filipinos from tapping their vast traditional fishing ground.
In 2016, an international tribunal ruled that Beijing violated Manila's entitlements and no country has sole rights to fish there, Reuters reported.
In 2012, China seized the Scarborough Shoal, which is 120 nautical miles from the nearest coast of the Philippines’ main island of Luzon and stopped Filipino fishermen to approach the rich waters. Then Filipinos were allowed to return to fish at the shoal after Philippine President Duterte visited China in October 2016, called for a new era of ties. - VNA
You should also see
Dien Bien Phu Victory echoes, 70 years on
Seventy years ago, Vietnam won the Dien Bien Phu battle, forcing the French government to sign the Geneva Agreement in July 1954 and marking the end of the French military presence in the whole Indochina.
See more
World
Indonesia enhances vigilance against money laundering
Indonesian President Joko Widodo on April 17 called on the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) and related ministries to remain alert to new methods of money laundering, including those involving the cryptocurrency market.
World
Cambodia sees record number of tourists during traditional New Year holiday
Cambodia recorded almost 22 million domestic and international visitors travelling to different tourist destinations nationwide during the four-day traditional New Year holiday, from April 13 to 16.
World
Indonesia raises alert level to highest, warns of tsunami as volcano erupts
An airport in Madano city, the capital of Indonesia’s North Sulawesi province, has been ordered closed while hundreds of people evacuated and the alert level raised to the highest on April 18 due to large-scale volcanic eruptions of Mount Ruang.
World
ASEAN culture promoted in Mexico
Typical and diversified culture of ASEAN countries is being promoted at the ongoing ASEAN Week at the headquarters of Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies in Mexico city from April 15-19.
World
Thailand, New Zealand agree to elevate ties to strategic partnership
Thailand and New Zealand on April 17 agreed to upgrade bilateral ties to a strategic partnership by 2026, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.
