PH drops protest plan vs China

From the Manila Standard Today (Jan 16): PH drops protest plan vs China

THE Philippines will not file a protest against China over its announcement it will require foreign vessels to seek clearance from it before entering the disputed West Philippine Sea, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday.

But Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez urged the United Nations to quickly resolve the case it filed against China over that country’s excessive assertion of sovereignty over the disputed area.

He also urged a quick drafting of a code of conduct between the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China.

Hernandez said the Philippines had already filed a protest against China’s establishment of Sansha City, the city that it claimed would administer all the disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea.  

He said the Philippines was now in the middle of completing the memorial for its case against China before the Arbitral Tribunal. The memorial is scheduled to be submitted on March 30 this year.

“The Philippines is now in the midst of preparation for this memorial,” Hernandez said.

He said the Philippines would fully address all issues including matters relating to jurisdiction, admissibility and the merits of the disputes.

The Philippine brought its case against China for International arbitration on Jan. 22 last year.

Both countries are required to choose their respective lawyers and experts to represent them for the arbitration proceedings.

And though China has rejected participation in the arbitration procedures, the Philippines maintains that the case can proceed without Beijing’s participation. The five-member arbitral tribunal has recently convened and named The Hague as the seat of the arbitration.

The Philippines says China’s claims over the West Philippine Sea are expansive, excessive and in gross violation of international law, specifically the Unclos.

The West Philippine Sea is claimed by China on the basis of its nine-dash line while parts of it are being claimed by the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/01/16/ph-drops-protest-plan-vs-china/