The Philippines has found an ally among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations over its territorial dispute with China during a two-day Asean summit in Nay Pwi Taw, Myanmar.
Upon arrival on Monday, President Benigno Aquino III announced that Asean leaders had thrown its support behind the Philippines' call for the respect of the principles in the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).
Aquino said Asean members had expressed apprehension over what might result from agressive moves by China to claim most of the territories in the South China Sea.
"Tungkol naman sa territorial dispute, bago pa man magsimula ang summit ay naglabas na ang lahat ng mga foreign ministers ng Asean ng isang joint statement kaugnay ng mga nagaganap sa South China Sea," Aquino said.
"Kaya naman po nagpapasalamat tayo sa ASEAN chair, ang Pangulong Thein Sein at sa iba pang pinunong sa Timog Silangangan Asya na sumuporta sa ating panawagan sa higit na pagrespeto at pagpapatupad sa mga nilatag na prinsipyo sa declaration of conduct of parties in the South China Sea," added Aquino.
[Video: Arrival Ceremony (Speech)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeBTtl7YMvM]
On Saturday, the Asean Foreign Ministers issued a statement expressing serious concern over the ongoing developments in the South China Sea, which have increased tensions in the area.
They urged all parties concerned to exercise self-restraint and to resolve disputes by peaceful means and without resorting to threats or use of force. They also called on all parties to undertake full and effective implementation of the DOC.
Over the last three years, tensions have been rising in disputed areas of the West Philippine Sea, also known as the South China Sea, over increasingly aggressive Chinese intrusion and posturing. The Philippines is pushing for a peaceful resolution of its territorial disputes with China through maritime arbitration based on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
During the summit, Asean leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation for the full and effective implementation of the DOC in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS.
They also called on all parties to “exercise self-restraint and non-use of force, as well as refrain from taking actions that would further escalate tension and to work towards an early conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea as reflected in the Asean’s Six-Point Principles on the South China Sea.”
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/86622/video--philippines-finds-ally-in-asean-over-territorial-dispute-with-china
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.