Members of Bayan Muna hold a picket in front of Chinese consulate in Makati on Friday April 17 to protest against China’s reclamation activities in Panganiban Reef, part of the disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea. Recent satellite pictures showed the Chinese constructing facilities in the area. (MNS Photo)
MANILA, Apr 21 (Mabuhay) – President Benigno Aquino III does not see the need to convene the National Security Council (NSC) amid China’s recent actions in disputed areas in the South China Sea, Malacañang said Tuesday.
Asked via text message if there is a necessity for Aquino to meet the NSC to tackle China’s aggression, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte replied, “In the President’s view, not at this time.”
Valte added that the Cabinet’s security cluster – which is composed of defense, military and police officials – regularly tackles the Philippines’ territorial dispute with China in its meetings with Aquino.
“I am not aware of any discussions regarding convening the NSC at this time to take up the West Philippine Sea dispute,” the Palace official said.
The NSC is chaired by the president. Its other members are the Vice President, the Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff, the NSC director-general, the executive secretary, the secretaries of foreign affairs, national defense, interior and local government, justice, and labor and employment.
“The security cluster discusses the WPS as a regular item in their agenda as warranted, with the relevant departments present,” she added.
On Monday, Senator Francis Escudero urged Aquino to convene the NSC, in light of Beijing’s increasing efforts to stake its claim in disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea.
President Aquino earlier said that the world should fear China’s reclamation and construction work in the South China Sea, calling these a global problem. Beijing, however, maintained that the situation in the area is stable.
PNoy never convened NSC
At the same time, Valte said that as far as she knows, President Aquino has never convened the NSC.
“I don’t recall that he has convened it during his administration,” the Palace official said in a text message.
The NSC was created during President Elpidio Quirino’s administration through Executive Order 330. It was reorganized by President Ramon Magsaysay via Executive Order 115.
Under these executive orders, the NSC is tasked to “advise the President on matters of national defense and security.”
These documents do not specify how often the NSC should meet. Instead, the NSC was directed to make recommendations to the President “from time to time.”
The NSC is composed of the President, the Vice President, the Senate President, the House Speaker, Cabinet members, the Armed Forces chief, the Foreign Affairs undersecretary, the National Civil Defense administration, and chairpersons of the defense and foreign affairs committees in Congress.
Secretary Cesar Garcia Jr. currently heads the NSC.
China’s aggression
Recent satellite images showed China building an airstrip suitable for military use on reclaimed parts of Kagitingan Reef in the disputed Spratly archipelago. Beijing is also reportedly undertaking reclamation work on Subu Reef in the Spratlys.
China has overlapping claims over parts of the South China Sea with the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Taiwan.
The Philippines, which calls part of the disputed areas the “West Philippine Sea,” has sought international arbitration before a Netherlands-based tribunal to nullify China’s massive claims over South China Sea.
China uses the so-called “nine-dash line” to claim ownership of almost the entire South China Sea, while the Philippines uses the UnitedNations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as basis for its claim.
Beijing earlier rejected international arbitration proceedings to settle its territorial dispute with the Philippines, insisting instead on bilateral talks to settle the matter. (MNS)