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Beijing issues
warning on safety in Philippines
SABER RATTLING: One Chinese newspaper said
despite Beijing¡¦s desire to talk, Manila was creating a situation where there is
¡¥no other option left but the use of arms¡¦
AFP, MANILA
A protester burns a Philippines
and U.S national flag during a demonstration near the Philippine consulate in
Hong Kong yesterday. China and Philippines are engaged in a standoff over a
territorial row in South China Sea.
Photo: Reuters
A man views a display of military
equipment at the China International Defence Electronic Exhibition in Beijing
yesterday. China told its citizens they were not safe in the Philippines and its
state media warned of war, as a month-long row over rival claims in the South
China Sea threatened to spill out of control.
Photo: AFP
China told its citizens yesterday they
were not safe in the Philippines and state media warned of war, as a month long
row over rival claims in the South China Sea threatened to spin out of control.
Chinese travel agencies announced they had suspended tours to the Philippines
and the Chinese embassy in Manila advised nationals already in the country to
stay indoors ahead of planned anti-China protests.
¡§Avoid going out at all if possible and if not, avoid going out alone. If you
come across any demonstrations, leave the area, do not stay to watch,¡¨ the
embassy¡¦s advisory said.
The safety alerts came as media in China warned the country was prepared to go
to war to end the stand-off over the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea
that both nations claim as their own and which is also claimed by Taiwan, where
it is known as Huangyan Island (¶À©¥®q)
¡§No matter how willing we are to discuss the issue, the current Philippine
leadership is intent on pressing us into a corner where there is no other option
left but the use of arms,¡¨ the China Daily said in an editorial.
¡§Since ancient times, our nation has deemed war the last resort in handling
state-to-state relations, but Manila is living in a fantasy world if it mistakes
our forbearance for timidity,¡¨ it added.
The two nations have had non-military vessels stationed at the shoal since April
8 in an effort to assert their sovereignty over the area.
The Philippines insists its claims to the area are backed by international law,
because the shoal is well within its 200 nautical mile (370km) exclusive
economic zone.
However, China claims virtually all of the South China Sea as its territory,
even waters close to the coasts of the Philippines and other Asian countries.
The Philippines has repeatedly said it wants to solve the stand-off over the
shoal through diplomatic means, but it has also said it secured a pledge from
the US, its main military ally, to protect the Philippines from attacks in the
South China Sea.
A coalition of Filipino activist groups is planning to hold rallies at Chinese
embassies around the world today to support the Philippines in the dispute.
Organizers are hoping thousands of people will attend what they expect to be the
biggest of the rallies, in Manila, and the Chinese embassy¡¦s safety alert was
circulated chiefly to warn its nationals about that protest.
Meanwhile, Taiwan has advised its citizens in the Philippines to pay particular
attention to their personal safety.
Taiwan¡¦s representative office in the Philippines said in an advisory on
Wednesday that Taiwanese expatriates should be careful during the protests
because Taipei and Manila also contest sovereignty over the Spratly Islands (Nansha
Islands, «n¨F®q), also in the South China Sea.
Furthermore, Filipinos might not be able to distinguish between Taiwanese and
Chinese, the office said, urging Taiwanese to seek help from the office if
necessary.
The advisory letter has been sent by fax or e-mail to Taiwanese chambers of
commerce and expatriate groups in the Philippines, the office said.
Additional reporting by CNA
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