'Concerned about regional tension,' US backs PHL arbitration bid in West Philippine Sea row

From InterAksyon (Apr 3): 'Concerned about regional tension,' US backs PHL arbitration bid in West Philippine Sea row



DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario meets Secretary John F. Kerry at the US Department of State---their first since the former senator assumed his Cabinet post. PHOTO COURTESY OF STATE DEPARTMENT

United States Secretary of State John F. Kerry has assured Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario that Washington will continue to work with the Philippines in seeking a peaceful solution to the conflicting claims in the West Philippine Sea, particularly in the coming ASEAN and related meetings.

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila reported Wednesday on the outcome of the meeting--- the first between the chief diplomats of the two allies since the former senator assumed his new position early this year.

The DFA said Kerry gave his full support to the arbitration efforts in his remarks before members of the press and later in his meeting with Secretary Del Rosario at the State Department.

In his statement to the press, Kerry said: “The Philippines is one of our five Asia-Pacific allies and a very, very important relationship at this point in time when there are tensions over the South China Sea, where we support a code of conduct . . . We are deeply concerned about some of these tensions and would like to see it worked out through a process of arbitration.”

After meeting Kerry, Secretary Del Rosario said: “We spoke at length about the situation in the West Philippine Sea. Secretary Kerry emphasized the importance the United States gives to maintaining peace and stability in the area. More importantly, Secretary Kerry assured me that the US is committed to supporting the efforts of the Philippines to settle the disputes peacefully and in accordance with the rule of law.”

The DFA chief also updated Kerry on Manila’s arbitration initiative, citing “its importance to the future stability of our region in particular and to the future efficacy of international law in general.”

Del Rosario was joined at the meeting by Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr., Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Carlos D. Sorreta; Deputy Chief of Mission Maria Austria; and Executive Director Rosalita S. Prospero of the Office of American Affairs.

Del Rosario reported that he had “stressed that we are committed to seeing this arbitration through. There should be no confusion or any doubts about our resolve.” Kerry he noted, is fully supportive of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and was one of its strongest advocates for its ratification in the US Senate.

The two diplomats also agreed to work together in the context of the ASEAN and other related meetings this year on addressing the situation in the West Philippine Sea through peaceful means.

The DFA chief “welcomed Secretary Kerry’s commitment to work with Brunei, the current ASEAN chair, on the issue of the West Philippine Sea. Both the United States and Brunei know that the Philippines is committed to the arbitration case it has filed.”

Kerry made this commitment when he met with His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei at the State Department on 11 March 2013.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/58588/concerned-about-regional-tension-us-backs-phl-arbitration-bid-in-west-philippine-sea-row