Chinese govt vessels back in Panatag Shoal; PH awaits arbitral tribunal

From InterAksyon (Jul 8): Chinese govt vessels back in Panatag Shoal; PH awaits arbitral tribunal

It’s confirmed: Chinese government vessels are back in the Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal) area a mere 124 nautical miles from the Philippines’ Masinloc municipality in Zambales, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Monday.

Manila is not looking to file filing another note verbale this time, however. Asked why, DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said the government must choose when it is “appropriate” to protest Beijing’s aggressive stance in Philippine-claimed territories.

“We choose when it is appropriate. It is also important to know that other actions are being taken by the Philippine side together with our partners in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and through the legal track like the arbitral proceedings, which we hope [would] proceed as soon as possible,” he said.

“The arbitral tribunal has been formed. We expect [it to] convene very soon,” Hernandez said.

Last January 22, the Philippines brought before an arbitral tribunal under the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) its maritime and territorial disputes with China.

Beijing refused to join the arbitration case on its all-encompassing, controversial nine-dash claim that covers the whole West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). But Manila proceeded with filing just the same, and subsequently gained the support of the United Nations, the United States and the European Union, which cited it for pursuing peaceful means in established international fora.

Hernandez said the Philippine government is still awaiting word from the ITLOS regarding the presentation of its case before the five-member tribunal.

“We are just waiting for the advice of the tribunal,” he added. Sitting on the tribunal are: Judge Thomas Mensah from Ghana, Judge Jean-Pierre Cot from France, Judge Alfred Soons from The Netherlands, Judge Stanislaw Pawlak from Poland to represent China, and Judge Rudiger Wolfrum from Germany to represent the Philippines.

Sri Lanka's Chris Pinto earlier resigned from the tribunal to avoid being seen as partial, as he is married to a Filipino. Mensah replaced him as a judge.

ITLOS President Shunji Yanai chose Pawlak for China, which refused to nominate its representative to the tribunal.

Meanwhile, DFA spokesman Hernandez, in revealing the report from the Philippine Navy confirming sighting of two Chinese Maritime Surveillance ships back in the Bajo de Masinloc, explained that the Chinese ships “have been intruding in that area some time now… so they go back and forth. This report of Chinese ships leaving and coming back has been a normal report.”.

Last week, Hernandez belied reports that Chinese ships have already left the area.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/65875/chinese-govt-vessels-back-in-panatag-shoal-ph-awaits-arbitral-tribunal