Wednesday, April 10, 2019

DFA chief reiterates stand on WPS

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 10, 2019): DFA chief reiterates stand on WPS



Foreign Affairs Secretary Locsin Jr. on Wednesday reiterated that the Philippine position on the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) stands, noting that "It is ours."

In a conversation with a netizen on Twitter, Locsin said: "The stand is that it is ours. And they (China) took it. World's highest court ruled that. Period. Now the question is how to take it back."

In his succeeding response, he said Chinese President Xi Jinping himself was told that "No country can call a sea its own because it bears that country's name," noting that the Philippine government continues to claim the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG).

Last week, the DFA noted the Philippine government has consistently manifested its position on the Pag-asa Island and on the KIG.

The DFA has also raised its objections or concerns over illegal, tension-raising or coercive activities in the area, through diplomatic actions, notes verbales and in meetings with its Chinese counterparts, including the Philippines-China Bilateral Consultation Mechanism.

Vietnam and the Philippines, along with some member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), have been contesting the claims of the South China Sea with Beijing, which asserts a large portion of the waters with its invisible demarcation called the nine-dash line.

The long-standing territorial spat has not yet been settled but Hanoi, Manila, and other claimants have committed to work alongside China toward the conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the area.


http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1066983

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