Palace welcomes US statement on SEA territorial disputes

From the Manila Bulletin (Jun 22): Palace welcomes US statement on SEA territorial disputes

Malacañang on Saturday welcomed the statement of Danny Russel, the nominee of United States President Barack Obama to become the top US diplomat in East Asia, rejecting coercion and bullying by China in territorial disputes.

Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in an interview with government radio dzRB on Saturday that Russel's statement is in line with the Philippine government's position for a peaceful resolution of its territorial dispute with China in the West Philippine Sea.

"That’s a welcome statement considering that it’s very---it’s in line with our efforts with what we’ve been doing. Our position has always been that there is no need for coercion in resolving our maritime disputes," Valte said.

"And our approach has always been to adopt the rules-based scheme, which is very evident from the steps that we’ve taken in the several disputes that—in the dispute that we are currently involved in," she added.

She stressed that the Philippines has always wanted that the dispute be settled in peaceful means and at the proper venue.

The Philippine government early this year brought its territorial dispute with China before a United Nations (UN) arbitration tribunal in its desire to resolve the dispute with China within the framework of international law.

Russel at a confirmation hearing on Thursday reportedly said that "there’s no place for "coercion and bullying in the region’s seas."

He reportedly told a Senate panel that "he will do everything in his power to lower the temperature in territorial disputes in the South and East China Seas and push claimants, including China, toward diplomacy."

It was “unacceptable” for China, he said, "to demand only bilateral negotiations with the other claimants."

He also reportedly voiced "strong support "for efforts by Southeast Asia to negotiate as a bloc and frame a “code of conduct” to manage the disputes.

http://mb.com.ph/News/National_News/18564/Palace_welcomes_US_statement_on_SEA_territorial_disputes_#.UcV9No7D9jo