PHL envoy hopes tribunal win will prod China to settle disputes in diplomatic manner

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 12): PHL envoy hopes tribunal win will prod China to settle disputes in diplomatic manner

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Cuisia on Tuesday said he hopes a victory for the Philippines in its case against China before The Hague-based tribunal would prompt Beijing to seek a resolution of the disputes in the South China Sea in a peaceful and diplomatic manner.

China has repeatedly said that it does not recognize Manila’s case nor would it abide by the court’s decision, a move, which Cuisia warned, that may entail “some cost” to Beijing.

“China of course values its reputation in the international community. They are a rising power and of course they would like to enjoy the respect of the international community,” Cuisia said. “I don’t think they want to be pictured as a rogue nation.”

Cuisia said he expects China to sit down with the Philippines to settle the matter diplomatically even though it would be “unrealistic” to expect that to happen right away.

“It will take time,” he said. “Maybe it will take a number of years before we get to that point, but hopefully China will realize that it is to their interest to resolve the issue peacefully in a manner that is mutually satisfactory because it cannot be just one-sided.”

A maritime standoff in 2012 in the Philippine-claimed Scarborough Shoal prompted the Philippines to seek international arbitration in the Hague, Netherlands, a legal step that has angered China and impaired ties between the two Asian neighbors.

Manila’s case sought to demolish China’s claim that it has indisputable and historical rights over nearly 90 percent of the South China Sea, including areas that are within the Philippines exclusive economic zone as allowed by international law, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Both Manila and Beijing, along with more than 160 states are signatories to the UNCLOS.

China’s massive island-building on seven contested reefs in the South China Sea has drastically changed the security landscape in waters, a vital trading route where undersea oil and gas has been discovered in several areas, home to rich mineral deposits and teeming with abundant marine life.

Beijing has reclaimed more than 2,900 acres of land in the South China Sea in less than two years or immediately after the Philippines sought arbitration.

China has admitted that the reclaimed features, where at least two airstrips and massive buildings were constructed and surface-to-air missiles were reportedly installed in one island, will have both military and civilian functions.

But analysts believe that the reclaimed islands will be used as military outposts to further cement its control over the waters – a move being opposed by the United States, Japan, Australia, European Union and G7 nations, fearing this would embolden China to restrict freedom of air and sea navigation.

“We hope that they will be more reasonable in addressing this issue,” Cuisia said although he admitted that “there’s nothing that really can force China if they refuse to do anything or refuse to abide by the decision.”

“However, what we will probably do, we will always bring it up in all international fora. We will be pointing out that China is not following the rule of law,” Cuisia said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=875601