Phl raises sea ruling at ASEM

MANILA, Philippines - At the first diplomatic gathering following the July 12 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) on the South China Sea, Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. said yesterday that the Philippines welcomed the decision and reiterated the country’s respect for the milestone decision.

Yasay said the ruling of The Hague-based tribunal was an important contribution to ongoing efforts in addressing disputes.

He raised the South China Sea issue even as Beijing said on Monday that there should be no discussion on it during the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Ulaan Baator.

Yasay joined 54 leaders from ASEM that is celebrating its 20th anniversary in the Mongolian capital.

President Duterte had designated Yasay to represent him at the ASEM summit between Asian and European leaders.

Yasay said that the Philippines welcomes the issuance of the arbitral award on the South China Sea.

The PCA in The Hague, Netherlands had concluded that China had violated the Philippines’ economic and sovereign rights.

Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also have unresolved overlapping claims on parts of the South China Sea.

The tribunal dismissed China’s “nine-dash line” that claims 85 percent of the South China Sea. The PCA said China’s claim is unlawful under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

“The Philippines strongly affirms its respect for this milestone decision as an important contribution to the ongoing efforts in addressing disputes in the SCS. We call on all parties to exercise restraint and sobriety,” Yasay said.

The Philippines reiterated its abiding commitment to pursue the peaceful resolution and management of disputes with a view to promoting and enhancing peace and stability in the region.

“At the same time we attach great importance to measures that will restore trust and confidence among parties in the region. The Philippines shall continue to engage concerned parties in finding ways to reduce regional tensions and to build greater trust and confidence,” Yasay said.

“In this regard, the Philippines will continue fostering mutually beneficial relations with all nations,” he added.

He said ASEM has been a platform not only for functional cooperation among Asian and European countries, but also for fruitful and meaningful discussions on all of ASEM’s three pillars: the political, the economic and the social, cultural and educational pillars supported by the Philippines.

ASEM has promoted multilateral cooperation in addressing regional and international political-security concerns such as terrorism, nuclear testing, climate change and human rights.

France said it will be difficult to prevent Asian and European leaders gathering for the ASEM Summit in Mongolia from raising the South China Sea issue.

“It’s the first international meeting with the European and Asian stakeholders,” French Ambassador Thierry Mathou told reporters on the sidelines of the Bastille Day reception, the French Independence Day, held at his residence on Thursday evening.

China said on Monday there should be no discussion about the South China Sea during the ASEM Summit.

A European Union statement on the ruling of the arbitral tribunal rejecting China’s territorial claims is expected to be issued.

“We are waiting for one,” he said.

France’s position calls on parties concerned to abide by the ruling and the UNCLOS.

“We invite all stakeholders to discuss because at the end, the only solution to this issue is negotiation,” Mathou added.

The arbitral tribunal invalidated China’s claims to ill-defined historic rights through the nine-dash line and ruled on the legal status of every feature in the Spratly Islands raised by the Philippines.

US supports special envoy

The United States welcomed the Philippines’ plan to send a special envoy to China to begin talks after the PCA ruling.

Former president Fidel Ramos has been asked by President Duterte to begin talks with Chinese officials. 

Duterte said the interest of the Philippines and its allies would be considered as they strive to settle the territorial row through diplomacy.

Elizabeth Trudeau, Press Office director at the US Department of State, said the US encourages all claimants to avoid provocative actions and rhetoric and take advantage of the opportunity the ruling provided.

“We would welcome any discussion among claimants. We hope that all claimants take advantage of this opportunity that the arbitration decision provided to work together and manage these disputes,” Trudeau said in a press briefing which transcript was posted on the State Department website.

She said the ruling by the PCA is legally binding, noting that both China and the Philippines are signatories of UNCLOS and agreed to a legally binding decision.

When joining the UNCLOS, the US said that parties agree to the convention’s compulsory dispute settlement process and the tribunal’s decision is final and legally binding on both China and the Philippines. 

With the onus now on China, the US, though not a signatory to UNCLOS, told Beijing that the world is watching to see if China is a responsible global power that will abide by its legally binding obligations under the decision rendered by a United Nations-backed tribunal.