International norms should be respected in resolving territorial disputes -- President Obama

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 28): International norms should be respected in resolving territorial disputes -- President Obama

United States President Barack Obama on Monday stressed the need for international norms and rules to be respected in resolving territorial disputes.

”Our goal is not to counter China. Our goal is not to contain China. Our goal is to make sure that international rules and norms should be respected and that include the area of maritime disputes,” Obama said in a joint press conference with President Benigno S. Aquino III after their expanded bilateral meeting in Malacanang.

Obama, who is on two-day state visit in the Philippines, emphasized that coercion and intimidation is not the way to settle disputes, including territorial disputes between the Philippines, China and other claimants in the West Philippine Sea.

”Our primary interest is the peaceful resolution of conflict, freedom of navigation that allows for continued progress and prosperity. We don’t take specific position on the disputes between nations,” Obama pointed out.

With this, Obama said the US is supporting the approach of President Aquino to go before international arbitration body in resolving the West Philippine Sea.

”Our goal here is simply to make sure that everybody will cooperate in peaceful, responsible solution to attain prosperity, growth and jobs. We need to focus on security arrangement that avoids conflict and disputes and we’ll be able to place our attention on what should be focused on,” Obama said.

The bilateral talks between the two leaders was part of the US President’s last leg of his four-nation Asian tour that also include Japan, South Korea and Malaysia.

It was the first time a US President visited the Philippines since President George Bush came to the Philippines for a working visit in 2003.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=638700