The Spratlys islands have a long story to tell. The islands’ untapped potentials for possible oil, gas and other mineral resources, aside from its proximity to shipping lanes, result in numerous claims as to who owns these groups of islands.

Based on territorial boundaries, contending countries such as the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan would like take a chunk to whatever the islands have in store for the future. China’s presence with the possible violation in a deal with the Philippine government about the developments over the Spratlys within Manila territorial ownership is an alarming scene. This might affect the bilateral cooperation between the two countries and among the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Is China going beyond the legitimate activities as mandated over the 1992 ASEAN Manila Declaration? Is the issue over the Spratlys related to the alleged anomalous ZTE Corp. deal of giving in to the Palace’s request? These are some queries waiting to be answered.

Tensions are creating confusion as to what’s the real score between negotiations of the Philippine government with China. Issues remain vague as to what the real intentions and legal deals that have been discussed.

Certainly, a lot of explaining and clearing have to be in place to generate a wider perspective about the legitimacy of the deals entered into by the Arroyo government with China. All other member nations of the ASEAN are in a wait-and-see attitude of whether China is playing fair over the Spratlys territorial domains. Although the Chinese Embassy in Manila has already expressed concerns over questions thrown to the government, still several measures need to be cleared for the benefit of international relations.

Whatever violation that might be seen will have an impact to the Philippine-China bilateral relations. As this happens, the ASEAN family will also be affected. Respecting territorial boundaries is a major issue that needs to be taken into consideration.

As of press time, Mrs. Arroyo is speeding up the Congress to pass a bill, House Bill 3216, claiming ownership of the Kalayaan Group of Islands that would set the baseline territory of the country’s 12-mile territorial sea, 24-mile contiguous zone and 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) over the Spratlys.

As soon as the bill is passed, it will be filed before the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea by May 2009 as set by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Asia is one big family. Any misgivings or detrimental effects of questionable deals will create a domino effect in the economies of the region. So it is only proper to take an active stance in all deals entered by neighboring countries, be it bilateral, multilateral or any negotiations that may directly or indirectly affect us.