Spratlys code of conduct ‘working,’ says RP commander
MANILA, Philippines — The military commander in the western Philippines said on Tuesday that a code of conduct between claimant countries in the disputed Spratly Islands is “working” and there has been no monitored build-up of military forces recently.
“I can tell you that the code of conduct is working. As a matter of fact, we see no encroachment in the area and there is mutual cooperation between occupants in case of emergency,” said Vice Admiral Tirso Danga, Armed Forces Western Command (Wescom) chief.
“We observed no additional fortification, everything has remained status quo and I believe that with this peaceful condition the exploration of its potential is up and coming,” Danga told reporters in an interview.
The reported oil-rich Spratlys are being claimed in whole or in part by the Philippines, China, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, and Taiwan.
In October 2006, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo proposed a joint seismic research of the Spratlys with China and Vietnam during a meeting of Chinese and Southeast Asian leaders in Nanning, China.
Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. agreed with Danga’s assessment, saying there has been “no hostile incident” in the South China Sea island chain recently.
The military is stationed on Pagasa island in the Spratlys.
Ebdane is set to visit troops there Thursday, bringing along with him a P13-million water treatment facility that will provide soldiers and residents with clean drinking water for the first time.
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