MANILA, Philippines — Finally breaking its silence on the tensions between the Philippines and China over the Spratly islands, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) lashed out at China’s “arrogance” for refusing to recognize the claims of other nations and refusing to engage in multilateral talks with other claimants.
In a statement e-mailed to the media Tuesday, the Maoist rebel group at the same time blamed the Aquino government for fomenting the conflict through its “undiplomatic and agitative” statements against China.
The CPP devoted much of its statement to its usual tirade against the United States for taking advantage of the conflict to promote its “imperialist” interests in the West Philippine Sea (or South China Sea).
The CPP, however, did not comment on China’s growing military might.
“The CPP… condemn(s) the puppet Aquino regime for kowtowing to its imperialist master… by hyping up the Spratly Islands conflict, issuing undiplomatic and agitative statements against China and allowing the US to deploy its military machinery in the conflict area in the guise of coming to the defense of the Philippines,” the rebel group said.
“At the same time, the Filipino people condemn the arrogance of China’s sole claim over the disputed island, its refusal to recognize the claims of other nations and its refusal to engage in multilateral negotiations,” it said.
The resource-rich Spratlys chain of islands in the West Philippine Sea, which straddles crucial shipping lines is being contested by the Philippines, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.
The CPP said the Southeast Asian nation-claimants should “vigorously oppose” US intervention and China’s insistence on its sole claim over the entire area.
It supported a “peaceful” and “multilateral” resolution of the dispute, which has long been the government’s line, without US interference.