DATE=2/3/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA / PHILIPPINES (L-O)
NUMBER=2-258776
BYLINE=STEPHANIE HO
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A dispute between China and the Philippines
over islands in the South China Sea is heating up. V-
O-A's Stephanie Ho reports from the Chinese capital,
Beijing Thursday issued the latest round of criticism,
saying the islands in question are part of Chinese,
not Philippine territory.
TEXT: China calls it Huangyan Island. The
Philippines refers to it as Scarborough Shoal. The
island is surrounded by rich fishing grounds and each
country considers it part of its sovereign territory.
The disputed rock formation is part of the potentially
oil-rich Spratly Island chain, more than 200-
kilometers west of the Philippine island of Luzon.
The Philippines presidential spokesman, Jerry Barican,
Wednesday rekindled the dispute, remarking that
Manila has absolute sovereignty and effective
territorial jurisdiction over the shoal.
The comments drew this retort from Chinese Foreign
Ministry Spokesman Zhu Bangzao, speaking through an
interpreter at a regular briefing for reporters on
Thursday
/// ZHU INTERPRETER ACT ///
We hope that the Philippine side will abide by
the basic facts and norms governing
international relations and refrain from making
such irresponsible remarks again.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Barican Wednesday said Chinese fishermen only
began venturing into the area in the early 1990's,
when the Chinese government began earnestly pursuing
its claims in the South China Sea.
But the Chinese spokesman, Mr. Zhu, countered that
Chinese maps and textbooks have shown the island as
part of Chinese territory since 1935.
/// ZHU INTERPRETER ACT ///
The Huangyan Island has always been integral
part of the Chinese territory. The
international community, including the
Philippines, has never challenged China's above-
mentioned position.
/// END ACT ///
The Chinese spokesman said international treaties show
the island outside of the official Philippine
demarcation line. Mr. Zhu added China does not accept
the Philippines claim that its 200-mile exclusive
economic zone includes the disputed island. (Signed)
NEB/HO/FC/KL
03-Feb-2000 08:35 AM EDT (03-Feb-2000 1335 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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