China mulls setting up of military body for new city

MANILA, Philippines - China is eyeing a military body to be set up in its new city of Sansha that administers Chinese territory in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

A China Daily report said Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng told a news conference on Thursday that setting up a military body in Sansha is being studied. 

Chinese state media reported that China set up a new “prefectural-level” City of Sansha to administer three disputed islands in the West Philippine Sea.

The Chinese government has raised the administrative status of Xisha (Paracels), Zhongsha (Macclesfield bank) islands and Nansha (Spratlys) islands from county-level to prefectural-level.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the State Council, or China’s Cabinet, approved on June 21 the establishment of the prefectural-level City of Sansha (City of Three Sands) to administer the three island groups and their surrounding waters, while the government seat will be stationed on Yongxing Island, part of the Xisha Islands.

The statement said the council has abolished the county-level Administration Office for Xisha, Zhongsha and Nansha Islands, which was also stationed on Yongxing Island.

The China Daily report cited analysts’ view that the setting up of a military presence in Sansha was indication of China’s determination to protect its maritime sovereignty in response to provocation from neighboring countries.

Zhang Haiwen, deputy director at the China Institute for Marine Affairs, said Sansha may be targeted by some countries that claim sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea.

The report said the officials believed that the military presence is needed to safeguard Chinese interests, including fishing rights, scientific research and the development of maritime resources. 

After Sansha City is established, Zhang said, the Chinese government will launch a series of development plans, adding that their implementation will need protection of the military. 

The Defense Ministry spokesman said Beijing will “resolutely oppose any military provocation” following the reported Vietnamese overflights in the skies above Sansha recently.

‘Best advantage’

At the Senate, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago  has expressed concern that China may have been trying to get the best advantage to strike joint explorations with the Philippines and other claimants to the disputed territories.

“But I wonder as a student of international law whether China is serious about its incursions to our territory,” she said.

“I wonder if it’s really serious or if these are diversionary. They are authorizing these vessels whether commercial or military into our claimed maritime territory.

“On the other hand, they have authorized if not supported the negotiations between a Filipino firm and a Chinese firm for the mutual exploration – in other words joint venture – between these two entities to mine for oil  and natural gas very near that area in the Recto Bank.

“I think the greater emphasis in the Chinese government, while all these territorial claims are pending, (is to) try to have joint exploration with all of ASEAN countries involved like Vietnam, Malaysia… so that they can already negotiate without having to go to the pain of negotiation what territory belongs to what country.”

It was expected  that China was protesting the putting up of a school in Pag-asa island “because it has laid claim to the entire area,” Santiago said.

Meanwhile, Sen. Edgardo Angara said cartography holds the solution to the territorial disputes the Philippines is facing.

“Our quarrels with other nations over contested areas can be resolved through cartography, specifically ancient maps that show the full extent of our territory,” he said.

Speaking at the launch of an exhibit of Philippine maps at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila last Tuesday, Angara said these maps continue to acquire contemporary relevance despite their rarity due to the present digitalized format of documentation.

“They should be utilized as reference and proof of our ownership,” he said.

“Our diplomats should look into such archival maps to find the answers to these disagreements over territories.”

Angara, who owns a vast collection of historical maps, contributed seven to the exhibit, including an old map showing that the disputed Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal belongs to the Philippines.  – With Christina Mendez