Palace hands off China-US row in WPS

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 22): Palace hands off China-US row in WPS

Malacanang has opted not to comment on China’s protest against the sailing of a US Navy warship near the Scarborough Shoal.

"We do not wish to be part of a US-China intramural,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque told Palace reporters.
Roque said what is important now is that Filipino fishermen are able to fish again in the Scarborough Shoal.

“We maintain we have title despite China’s contrary statement. But for now, what’s important is the right to livelihood of our fishermen and right now, our fishermen are able to exercise their rights,” Roque said during Monday’s Palace briefing.

The US had claimed it has just carried “freedom of navigation” when its Navy destroyer sailed within the 12-nautical mile limit of the disputed lagoon that China has been claiming as part of its maritime sovereignty.

China had promised to take “necessary measures” to protect the area which is within the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EZZ) of the Philippines.

In 2016, the international tribunal of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines’ arbitration case, saying China’s nine-dash line claims covering almost the whole West Philippine Sea (WPS) has no legal basis.

China has rejected the PCA decision, calling it null and void.

Despite China’s assertion that Scarborough Shoal is part of its maritime sovereignty, Roque said the Philippines maintains that Scarborough Shoal is part of its territory.

“Let them (China) claim. Their basis is historic waters and the international law of the seas tribunal has already made decision which says there is no basis for historical water under the UNCLOS,” Roque said during Monday’s Palace briefing.

Roque said the Philippines will continue to rely on China’s assurance that it will not build new artificial islands in the disputed WPS or South China Sea.

“That is the good will obligation that we expect compliance on the part of China that they will not reclaim or create new artificial islands,” Roque said.

“If there are new reclamations or new artificial islands, then we will maintain that there will be a breach of obligation of good faith but so far no breach,” he added.

Roque said it is for best interest of both Manila and Beijing to maintain the current status quo as both sides decided to settle WPS dispute through friendly dialogues while improving cooperation in many fields particularly in economy and people-to-people exchanges.

Aside from the Philippines and China, other claimant countries in the WPS are Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1022411