PRESS STATEMENT OF CONGRESSMAN ROILO GOLEZ 2ND DISTRICT PARANAQUE CITY
In the two-day Manila Conference on the South China Sea (SCS) held 5-6 July 2011, the most disturbing paper publicly presented among around twenty (20) papers was that of Dr. Shen Hongfang, a Chinese expert on the South China Sea from Xiamen University, China entitled "SCS issue in China-ASEAN Relations: An Alternative Approach."Madam Shen disclosed that in their Chinese Military Academy (according to her, a strategic study group consisting of influential ranking military officers and specialists), the following view had emerged:
1. The Chinese military cannot tolerate the military exercises of some sovereignty claimers in the South China Sea and those claimer countries should be " taught a lesson."
2. China's national strength especially in military capabilities is not yet enough to take care of all core national interests
3. The paper included the word "invade" as an option.
I was the one who stood up to ask Madam Shen to clarify the above. Madam Shen, in reply to my question, stated that the Chinese Military Academy is a very influential group.What would China do if their "national strength especially in military capabilities" would be enough to take care of all core national interests?Additionally, Madam Shen also disclosed that in their Chinese Social Academy, made up of sociology experts, the prevailing attitude has changed from "soft to hard" in the handling of the SCS issue.
There is also the consensus of most experts who attended the Manila Conference that China's claim on the SCS (the so-called U-shaped nine-dotted or nine-dashed line around the SCS) is ambiguous and not defined. Because of this, it is difficult to question the China claim on the SCS. There are no coordinates supporting the claim, unlike the Philippine and Vietnam EEZ claims which are very clear and in general conformity with the countries' coastlines.
Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites
