DEFENSE Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. yesterday said Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian "aggravated" tension in the disputed Spratly islands by visiting one of the islands occupied by Taiwanese forces.

Chen was the first Taiwanese president to visit Taiping Island (referred to as Ligao island in the Philippines). He also met with Taiwanese troops there during the visit Saturday.

The Spratlys, said to be potentially rich in oil and minerals, is being claimed in part or in whole by the Philippines, Taiwan, China, Brunei, Vietnam and Malaysia.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo called the visit "unfortunate" and said it violates an agreement among claimant countries.

Fajardo also said Malacañang will let the Department of Foreign Affairs handle the situation.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo earlier said Chen’s visit was "lamentable."

Teodoro said the Taiwanese president should have upheld a Code of Conduct agreed on in 1999 that he said "says that there should be no action done which will increase tension or increase agitation in the area."

Asked to elaborate on the "agitation," he said: "I mean he publicized the visit, he publicized intension to fortify his claim in the area. At present, what everybody wants is status quo."

Teodoro expressed confidence the visit will have no military implications or consequences, like a shooting war. "It has diplomatic implications. As I’ve said, the implication is diplomatic and diplomacy will solve that," he said.

Told that Taiwan is not a signatory to the Code of Conduct, Teodoro said: "You don’t need to be a signatory for something which wants to preserve an institution, which prevents tension in an area."

Former defense and AFP chiefs have visited Philippine-occupied islands in the disputed territory.

Teodoro said if he or AFP chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. will visit Filipino troops in the Spratlys, that should not be an issue unlike the visit of a head of state.

Esperon said at least 60 personnel from the Navy and Air Force are staying in at least eight Philippine-occupied islands and islets in Spratly. The biggest Philippine-occupied island is Pagasa island.

Esperon said the Armed Forces its repairing its airstrip in Pagasa island and the barracks of the soldiers.

Esperon also said "there is a need for more surveillance (in Spratlys) but we have to be more realistic about it because external defense or defense of our territories can cost a lot."

"It’s just unfortunate that there is a lot of political posturing nowadays coming from the side of Taiwan," he said. – Victor Reyes and Regina Bengco