RP defense chief to visit China for security deal 11-09-2004
Saturday, September 11, 2004
RP defense chief to visit China for security deal (10:45 a.m.)

MANILA -- Philippine Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz will visit China later this month to work out the details of a bilateral defense cooperation agreement, it was announced Saturday.

Cruz expressed hope that the accord would help ease tensions over the territorial dispute between the Philippines and China over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.

"The more you talk, the more you hold dialogue, the more you avoid any untoward events," he said.

Philippine President Arroyo agreed to forge a bilateral defense cooperation agreement with China during her visit there earlier this month.

During her visit, the Philippine government's oil exploration company agreed to jointly conduct with its Chinese counterpart the seismic mapping of potential oil reserves of the Spratly Islands.

Cruz said his visit to China would involve a "high-level dialogue" that will identify areas in defense where the two countries can cooperate.

"There are areas that we can help each other, for example, sea rescue, disaster mitigation and exchange of training," he said.

The Philippines and China, along with Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam, claim part or all of the Spratly Islands which are believed to sit on vast mineral resources. All claimants except Brunei have troops posted in the islands. (AFP)

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/net/2004/09/11/rp.defense.chief.to.visit.china.for.security.deal.(10.45.a.m.).html

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Cruz sees firmer defense ties with China

The scheduled high-level dialogue between defense and military officials and their counterparts in China is seen to avert more conflicts between the two countries.


Among the more contentious issues between the Philippines and China, are their conflicting claims over some or all of the Spratly Islands, Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz Jr. said.


“One important thing is we already have a multilateral agreement. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China has an agreement for a cooperative conduct, so the more you talk, the more you dialogue, the more you avoid any untoward events and the more you are able to cooperate,” Cruz said.


He said the high-level dialogue with China will pinpoint, among others, the areas where the Philippines and China can have close defense cooperation.


“This is a continuation of our foreign policy of having cooperation or closer relations with the United States, Japan, and China,” Cruz said.


Besides Cruz, the Armed Forces chief of staff, Gen. Narciso Abaya and the Army commander, Lt. Gen. Efren Abu, are meeting with their Chinese counterparts to discuss stronger military ties.


Cruz said Abaya and Abu and their counterparts are expected to discuss, besides stronger military ties, the exchange of training between the military establishments of the two countries.


Before the meeting, Cruz will receive 35 senior colonels from the National Defense University of China, who will pay him a courtesy call and visit the National Defense College to see where the two countries can have an exchange of training.


“There are areas where we can help each other -- for example sea rescue and disaster mitigation exchange of training. These are areas where all countries should try to get close cooperation, which we are doing already with our ASEAN neighbors,” Cruz said.


Leaders of the two countries agreed on increased defense cooperation between China and the Philippines during President Arroyo’s three-day state visit to China last week. Upon her return, Mrs. Arroyo ordered Cruz to begin “high-level talks” with his counterpart on defense cooperation.


The issue of conflicting claims between China and the Philippines over the Spratlys was not tackled during the bilateral talks of the two leaders, but instead focused on areas of cooperation in the disputed region through seismic study.


Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam, all claim sovereignty over the disputed Spratlys in whole or in part.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?section=NATIONAL&oid=59334