Palace: China version of law of the sea to be expected

From the Manila Times (Nov 28): Palace: China version of law of the sea to be expected

Malacañang yesterday said China ’s different interpretation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea was expected even as it stressed that the Philippines ’ approach to the West Philippine Sea ( South China Sea ) dispute is rules-based. The Chinese embassy in Manila has said the Philippines misinterpreted and misapplied the UNCLOS to support its claim over Scarborough shoal based on the exclusive economic zone provision. The embassy cited an analysis of the China National Institute for South China Sea Studies which states that UNCLOS cannot be the basis of the Philippines’ claim over Scarborough shoal because while UNCLOS provides for a 200-nautical mile EEZ, it does not have any provision to change a country’s sovereignty over territorial land, let alone empower any nation to extend its EEZs to include territories of other countries.

Deputy spokeswoman Abigail Valte said China will obviously have a different opinion because “we are on different sides of the fence.” “Everything that we have done has been in line with this rules-based approach with regard to rules that are recognized internationally,” Valte said. Valte said the Department of Foreign Affairs will handle the issue of the new Chinese passports which contained disputed territories with some Asean countries and with India as part of territory. Vietnam has reportedly refused to stamp the new Chinese passports because it depicts the South China Sea as Chinese territory. Valte said a note verbale has already been sent to China . “I understand that there have been some questions on the next course of action in light of placing their maps including all the territory within the nine-dash line on their passports,” she said.....

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