Thursday, April 18, 2019

No US-brokered talks to end Panatag Shoal standoff

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 18, 2019): No US-brokered talks to end Panatag Shoal standoff



Malacañang on Thursday rejected the statement of former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario that the United States brokered an agreement with the Philippines and China to pull out their respective vessels during the standoff at the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal in 2012.

“There is no proof that the United States has brokered an agreement for the Philippines and China to withdraw their respective vessels during the Scarborough Shoal standoff in 2012,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

Panelo, however, said that even if such brokering took place, del Rosario’s decision to agree to the US proposal and trust that China would keep its word showed his “inexperience” as foreign affairs chief.

“Even if there was such brokering, Mr. del Rosario’s ordering the withdrawal of Philippine vessel or vessels without the knowledge and consent of former President Aquino demonstrated his inexperience and naïveté in the art of psychological warfare,” he added.

Del Rosario earlier claimed that the US brokered talks to end the standoff by asking the two countries to pull out their vessels from the area.

On June 15, 2012, Philippines withdrew its two vessels, but China did not.

Panelo further blamed del Rosario for the Philippines losing possession of the shoal, saying the Duterte administration was only trying to “fix his mess.”

Del Rosario earlier criticized Panelo’s statement that the current administration never shelved the arbitral ruling won by the Philippines against China at The Hague.

The former Cabinet member described Panelo’s remark as “mindless”, noting that the presidential spokesperson “appears to be in surrender without lifting a finger to peacefully defend what is ours.”

“By such horrendous mistake, we lost Scarborough Shoal to the Chinese under Mr. del Rosario’s watch,” Panelo said.

“We are now trying to fix his mess, and no amount of justification from him could justify his monumental blunder,” he added.

Panelo also dismissed del Rosario’s statement as “pretended patriotism,” stressing that reacting to reports on the increased presence of Chinese vessels suspected to be maritime militia without verifying reports could lead to conflict between the two countries.

“What is mindless is when one makes reckless statements under the guise of pretended patriotism on unverified reports of intrusion or harassment, or performs actions that could provoke an armed retaliation,” Panelo said.

Citing the President, Panelo said the “best way” to solve the sea row between the Philippines and China is through negotiations.

“The President believes, and rightly so, that the best way to resolve this maritime dispute is through peaceful and diplomatic negotiations with China, a mode that avoids a violent confrontation to resolve international disputes,” Panelo said.

He said opting to negotiate with China did not mean that the Duterte administration was setting aside the arbitral ruling.

“Adopting such universally accepted dispute resolution relative to the present conflict is not an act of weakness nor is it deemed to be abandonment or shelving of the arbitration ruling in our favor,” he added.

Panelo earlier said the Philippines has already filed a "salvo of diplomatic notes" against China for the continued activity of Chinese vessels and is currently waiting for its response.

He emphasized the importance of maintaining “equilibrium” between the Philippines and China amid the ongoing sea row.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1067649

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