Alleged audio tape exacerbates tensions between China, Philippines

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – An alleged audio tape of a conversation between a Chinese diplomat and a Filipino commander has exacerbated tensions between the two maritime neighbors.

Chinese officials have claimed they possess an audio tape and a transcript of an alleged phone call with the Philippines Western Command Commander Vice Adm. Alberto Carlos, regarding handling of the disputes in the South China Sea.

Beijing has threatened to release to public the tape “within days” while Carlos has gone on leave from his duty, the daily Manila Times reported.

The phone call between a Chinese Embassy diplomat and Carlos mentions that the Filipino commander said the entire chain of command of the Philippines military “was on board with the new model" for peacefully managing the situation in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.

However, Filipino Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said he doubts the authenticity of the tape.

“If (tape is) proven true, they (China) have also violated international relations and violated the law as they failed to coordinate with the Department of Foreign Affairs as they have operated underhandedly if this is true," Gilberto said.

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- Chinese-made BRP Lake Caliraya vessel target of Filipino-US soldiers

China and the Philippines have conflicting claims over the Second Thomas Shoal – also known as the Ayungin Shoal, Bai Co May and Ren'ai Jiao – a submerged reef in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.

Vessels from China and the Philippines have collided several times in the recent past, including when Manila shipped supplies to a rusting World War II era warship, the BRP Sierra Madre, which Beijing wants the Philippines to remove.

The US and its allies have backed Manila over its claims against Beijing.

Manila has lodged around 20 diplomatic protests with Beijing over firing of water cannons by Chinese maritime forces against Filipino vessels which are engaged in supply missions to Madre.

During a maritime exercise on Wednesday, joint forces from the Philippines and the US sank a decommissioned Chinese-made BRP Lake Caliraya vessel.

The two forces are holding their large-scale annual Balikatan exercises.

Beijing claims vast maritime territory in the South China Sea under its so-called nine-dash line, which The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration said in 2016 has no legal basis under international law.

China says the ruling is not valid and has been in negotiations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations since 2002 for a code of conduct for the disputed sea.