US sends warship to Spratlys

WASHINGTON has sent its warship to patrol near one of China’s artificial islands in the West Philippine Sea, a move that President Benigno Aquino III said reflected a “balance of power.”

The USS Lassen, a guided missile destroyer, entered a 12 nautical mile territorial limit around Subi Reef in Spratly Islands.

“I see no issue as to this US Navy ship traversing under international law in waters that should be free to be traveled uponby any country,” the President said.

“So long as everybody conforms to established international rules and laws, then I don’t think the Philippines should have any negative apprehensions about these acts. And if we say we are in support of freedom of navigation for everybody, then we seek to hamper anybody’s travel, that, I think, seems to be inconsistent,” Aquino added.

China’s Foreign Ministry denounced the action, saying it “damaged regional peace and stability.”

Aquino said he expects all stakeholders in the dispute to welcome the US presence, adding that the pronouncements of “one regional superpower” – an obvious reference to China – should not be left unchallenged as it could become the “de facto the reality on the ground.”

“The American passage through these contentious waters is meant precisely to say that there are norms as to what freedom of navigation entails and they intend to exercise, so that there is no de facto changing of the reality on the ground,” the President said.

The presence of the US destroyer came weeks before Manila’s hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders’ Meeting in November, which is expected to be attended by both US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Aquino, however, said there is no scheduled bilateral meeting with Xi on APEC sidelines should the Chinese leader decide to attend.

The President earlier likened China’s massive reclamation activities in disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea to Nazi Germany’s expansionist past.

Aquino urged China to reconsider its reclamation efforts as these escalate tension in the region.

“If stability is a necessary prerequisite to prosperity for all, and if prosperity for our peoples is the be-all and end-all of any government, then perhaps they should re-examine all of these efforts and see whether or not this is necessary given the increasing tensions that are happening because of these activities,” he said.