Philippine senator calls for protest over Taiwanese plan to visit Spratlys

MANILA, Philippines (AP) - The head of the Philippine Senate's foreign relations committee called Friday for a diplomatic protest over reported plans by Taiwanese officials to visit the disputed Spratly islands next week.

Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, in a letter to Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo, said the planned visit to Taiwan's new airstrip on Taiping island "would constitute a provocative act on the part of Taiwan" and violate a declaration by China and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations on the conduct of parties in the South China Sea.

Taiwan is not a signatory to the 2002 declaration, but Santiago said "it is bound by the declaration, which in my humble view has since evolved into regional customary international law."

The Spratlys, believed to be rich in oil, gas and fish stocks, consist of some 100 mostly barren islets, reefs and atolls dotting the world's busiest shipping lanes in the South China Sea. Vietnam, China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei each claim all or part of the island chain.

Santiago said the Senate doesn't have enough time to pass a resolution on the issue, but requested Romulo pass on the Philippines' concerns in hopes that the visit won't take place.

Media reports from Taiwan on Thursday quoted a military spokesman as announcing the visit, which will include Taiwan's defense chief and a group of legislators.

In a separate statement, Santiago said "the Taiwan airstrip jeopardizes the freedom of overflight above the Spratly chain."

Vietnam and the Philippines earlier protested then-Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian's inauguration of the runway in February.