Solons call for ASEAN nations' position on West Philippine Sea dispute

MANILA, Philippines - Two lawmakers stressed the importance of the positions of the country's Southeast Asian neighbors on the West Philippine Sea dispute.

 

Albay Rep. Francis Bichara and Akbayan party-list Rep. Walden Bello co-authored House Resolution (HR) 729 or "A resolution directing the Committee on Foreign Affairs to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the current positions adopted by members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on the West Philippine Sea Maritime Dispute between the Philippines and China."

 

The lawmakers stressed the importance of informing the public how other Southeast Asians view the pending case between the Philippines and China under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

 

The resolution further implicates that it is the duty of the Department of Foreign Affairs to inform the Congress about the actions being taken by ASEAN members and their position on the territorial dispute in the West Philippines Sea.

 

"The continuing Chinese incursions, including harassment of Philippine civilian vessels and fishermen in our own exclusive economic zone in the vicinity of the Kalayaan Island Group and the Scarborough Shoal increased the tension among the various countries claiming sovereignty in various portions of the West Philippine Sea and contiguous bodies of water," Bichara and Bello said.

 

The authors noted that China has recently made claims that threatened not only Philippine territories as stated by international law but also those of other Southeast Asian countries. These threats have been accelerating due to China's aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea.

 

HR 729 would "promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law in the relationship among countries of the region and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter."

 

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