RP elevates South China Sea action plan to UN

From The Daily Tribune (Oct 18): RP elevates South China Sea action plan to UN

The Philippines further intensified calls on the international community to support the implementation of its proposed action plan that will promote peaceful resolution of disputes and maintain stability in the contested West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) territories.

In a letter sent to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and circulated to 193 Member States of the UN, the Philippines outlined the Triple Action Plan or TAP and called on the international community to support steps for a peaceful resolution of maritime disputes.

Manila’s three-pronged approach advocates steps which have already been rejected by China, like international arbitration.

Elevating the TAP to the UN reflects the Philippines’ still-defiant stance against China and its firm resolve to garner international support for the approaches and steps it has taken to protect its territorial claims in the South China Sea and reduce threats posed by China’s aggressive behavior in the contested region.

The South China Sea, home to a cluster of islands, shoals, reefs and cays said to be harboring rich oil and mineral reserves, is being claimed in part or in whole by China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.
Part of the South China Sea that is within Manila’s internationally-recognized exclusive economic zone (EEZ) has been renamed West Philippine Sea to stress its claim.

Tensions spiked anew in the areas amid China’s increasing military and paramilitary presence and construction activities in contested features — a move criticized by Manila and foreign governments like the United States, Japan and Australia.

China insists it has “indisputable sovereignty” over nearly the entire waters, where majority of the world’s global trade passes through.

Beijing also asserts ownership over territories within the Philippines’ EEZ, citing ancient maps and historical rights as the basis of its claim.

Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN Libran Cabactulan said the TAP is “a positive, comprehensive and constructive framework, which brings together various initiatives that the Philippines and other countries have been advocating for the peaceful resolution of the disputes.”

“Our proposed Triple Action Plan contains immediate, intermediate and final approaches to address the provocative and destabilizing activities in the South China Sea. They can all be pursued simultaneously, without prejudice to territorial claims,” Cabactulan said.  

http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/rp-elevates-south-china-sea-action-plan-to-un