VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Philippine military has documented the presence of structures which they say are illegal on the Union Banks, Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, not far from where hundreds of Chinese ships swarmed last month. Commander of the Philippine Military, Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said that the buildings were illegal and were not far from islands that the Philippines claimed to be included in its exclusive economic zone. Of course, this creates new problems in the disputed areas of the South China Sea. Meanwhile, other problems have not been completely resolved. China and several Southeast Asian countries seem to be caught in a dispute over their respective expansionary claims to the energy-rich waters of the South China Sea. China even borders the region with its "imaginary nine dotted lines".

In addition, the Chinese government also passed the Law on China's maritime management last February. It  said, the law is intended to safeguard the country's national sovereignty, security and maritime rights. Its Coast Guard is said to be allowed to take all necessary means, including the use of weapons to stop or prevent threats from foreign ships. In fact, Chinese coast guard personnel will be allowed to board and inspect foreign vessels operating in waters claimed  to be China's jurisdiction. This term, in fact,  is still ambiguous, because it covers areas that are also claimed by other countries.

As long as this rule is still being enforced by China, the possibility of a heated conflict in the South China Sea is still very open. To achieve peace in the South China Sea region, all parties involved should make comprehensive efforts and dialogue among the disputing countries in a bid to avoid open conflicts involving military forces and to prevent them from spreading elsewhere.