PHL: US plan to conduct freedom of navigation sail off China’s artificial islands 'consistent with international law'

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 13): PHL: US plan to conduct freedom of navigation sail off China’s artificial islands 'consistent with international law'

The Philippines on Tuesday defended a United States plan to sail near China’s reclaimed territories in the disputed South China Sea, saying such move is “consistent with international law.”

China, which built man-made islands in at least seven areas despite protests from several countries, including the US, asserts “indisputable” and “historical” sovereignty over the resource-rich waters.

"If the US decides to send naval vessels within 12 nautical miles of the reclaimed low-tide elevation features in affirmation of this objective, this would be consistent with international law and a rules-based order for the region,” a Foreign Affairs statement said.

Overlapping claims by the Philippines, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan to the South China Sea have led to occasional flare-ups and has become a hotspot for military conflict.

The US has declared several times that peace and freedom of navigation in the waters, where a bulk of the world’s trade pass, is in its national interest although it is not a party to the conflict.

"It is important for the international community to safeguard freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea,” the DFA said, adding “this is of paramount concern to all countries.”

"Failure to challenge false claims of sovereignty would undermine this order and lead China to the false conclusion that its claims are accepted as a fait accompli," it added.

With a military that is perceived to be one of the region’s weakest, the Philippines has resorted to international arbitration to denigrate China’s massive claim. The Netherlands-based Permanent Court of Arbitration has yet to hand down its decision on Manila’s case against China.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=814641