South China Sea dispute: Philippine MPs visit Spratlys

Five Philippine politicians have landed on a disputed island in the South China Sea, reigniting a row with China.

The politicians arrived on Pagasa island, the only island in the Spratlys chain populated by Filipinos - and sang the national anthem with residents.
The island is also claimed by China, Taiwan and Vietnam as part of a wider dispute in the South China Sea.
China has already said that the politicians' visit could harm relations between Beijing and Manila.
Landing on Pagasa island, congressman Walden Bello said the visit was a historic moment.
"We come in peace, we support a diplomatic solution. But let there be no doubt in any foreign powers' mind that if they dare to eject us from Pagasa... Filipinos will not take that sitting down," he said.
Before the trip, the Chinese embassy in Manila said it served no purpose "but to undermine peace and stability in the region and sabotage the China-Philippines relationship".
Pagasa has an airstrip and a small town hall and is occupied by about 300 Filipinos.
Tension in the South China Sea has been ramped up this year, with frequent spats and diplomatic rows - particularly between Vietnam and China.
The regional political bloc Asean (Association of South East Asian Nations) is currently meeting in Indonesia in a summit likely to be dominated by the South China Seas issue.
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has said the nations should agree a code of conduct for territorial disputes.
The Spratly Islands lie in an area thought to be rich in oil and gas. The region also has vital shipping routes.

Posted in: asia-pac