Philippines to assert arbitral ruling at ASEAN foreign ministers’ meet 

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will assert the 2016 arbitral ruling on the South China Sea issue at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia next month, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

“Secretary Manalo is expected to assert the 1982 UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and the arbitral award as the twin anchors of our actions and policies on the South China Sea,” said DFA Assistant Secretary for ASEAN Affairs Daniel Espiritu, referring to DFA chief Enrique Manalo.

The 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting will be held in Phnom Penh from Aug. 2 to 6.

At the meeting, the foreign ministers will be discussing ASEAN priorities for cooperation in 2022, the process of building the ASEAN Community, the directions for ASEAN development for 2025, COVID-19 response, ASEAN external relations, ASEAN centrality, as well as other relevant regional and international issues.

On July 12, Manalo rejected attempts by China to undermine the ruling, saying the tribunal’s findings are “indisputable.”

Manalo made the statement during the 6th anniversary of the Award on the South China Sea Arbitration.

He said the award and the UNCLOS are the twin anchors of the Philippines’ policy and actions on the maritime issue.

Meanwhile, China has downplayed a warning by US officials of rising cases of Chinese provocations in the South China Sea targeting other states with maritime claims in the region.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the US officials’ remarks misrepresented the facts as the South China Sea is the common home of countries in the region.

On July 26, deputy assistant secretary for East Asia at the State Department Jung Pak told a US think tank event that Chinese provocations were increasing.

US Assistant Secretary of Defense Ely Ratner warned that considering China’s behavior, it would only be “a matter of time” before a major incident occurs in the region.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian debunked the US officials’ claim but admitted, “we are soberly aware that the South China Sea is not entirely tranquil.”

He noted that China and ASEAN countries jointly commemorated the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and agreed to continue to fully and effectively implement the DOC and actively advance consultations on a code of conduct (COC) to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea and the region.

According to Zhao, the South China Sea is not a place to be turned into a wrestling ground by big powers outside the region.

In March, US Indo-Pacific commander Adm. John Aquilino said that the construction of missile arsenals, aircraft hangars, radar systems and other military facilities at Zamora (Subi) Reef, as well as Panganiban (Mischief) and Kagitingan (Fiery Cross) Reefs “appeared to have been completed.”

The function of China’s artificial islands is “to expand the offensive capability of China,” he said.