(Updated 4:01 p.m.) BEIJING—China's Foreign Ministry on Friday urged the Philippines to return to the "correct path" of talks to resolve their dispute over the South China Sea.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague on Thursday ruled that it has immediate jurisdiction over seven out of 15 issues raised against China by the Philippines, which is asking the tribunal to declare Beijing’s sweeping claims over the disputed areas in the South China Sea illegal and excessive.
In an initial legal setback for China and a victory for the Philippines, which filed the case in January 2013, the tribunal has set hearings and said that it expects to hand down a ruling on the case next year.
The tribunal also rejected China’s contention that The Hague-based tribunal did not have authority to rule on the case.
Filipino government officials and diplomats said the Philippines ran into a "dead end" when it tried to resolve territorial disputes with China through nearly two decades of bilateral talks, prompting the country to eventually decide to bring the long-simmering conflicts to international arbitration.
In its ruling on Oct. 29, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague said its jurisdiction with respect to seven other issues, or “submissions” in arbitration parlance, by the Philippines remain pending and “will need to be considered in conjunction with the merits.”
These include a move by the Philippine government to invalidate China’s nine-dash line, the country's basis to claim almost all of the South China Sea.
Another Philippine submission, on the other hand, needs to be clarified and narrowed by the court. - See more at: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/542504/news/nation/int-l-tribunal-takes-jurisdiction-of-phl-case-versus-china#sthash.IupT6LJc.dpuf
This was after the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled Thursday that it has immediate jurisdiction over seven out of 15 issues raised against China by the Philippines, which is asking the tribunal to declare Beijing’s sweeping claims over the disputed areas in the South China Sea illegal and excessive.In an initial legal setback for China and a victory for the Philippines, which filed the case in January 2013, the tribunal has set hearings and said that it expects to hand down a ruling on the case next year.
The tribunal also rejected China’s contention that The Hague-based tribunal did not have authority to rule on the case.
Filipino government officials and diplomats said the Philippines ran into a "dead end" when it tried to resolve territorial disputes with China through nearly two decades of bilateral talks, prompting the country to eventually decide to bring the long-simmering conflicts to international arbitration.
In its ruling on Oct. 29, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague said its jurisdiction with respect to seven other issues, or “submissions” in arbitration parlance, by the Philippines remain pending and “will need to be considered in conjunction with the merits.”
These include a move by the Philippine government to invalidate China’s nine-dash line, the country's basis to claim almost all of the South China Sea.
Another Philippine submission, on the other hand, needs to be clarified and narrowed by the court. - See more at: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/542504/news/nation/int-l-tribunal-takes-jurisdiction-of-phl-case-versus-china#sthash.IupT6LJc.dpuf
"China urges the Philippines to honor its own commitments, respect China's rights under international law, change its course and return to the right track of resolving relevant disputes in the South China Sea through negotiations and consultations," China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
China has said repeatedly it will neither recognize nor participate in the case.
In a press briefing, Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin said the case will not affect China's sovereign claims in the seas.
"The result of this arbitration will not impact China's sovereignty, rights or jurisdiction over the South China Sea under historical facts and international law," he said.
PHL to pursue case
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), meanwhile, said it will pursue its case before the international court.
"We are determined to pursue the arbitration case to its logical conclusion," DFA spokesman Charles Jose told GMA News Online on Friday.
He added that the Philippinesy is bound to the court's final decision on the case regardless of the outcome.
"The Tribunal stated that its ruling is binding on both the Philippines and China," Jose said. "We will await advice from the Tribunal as to the schedule of next oral hearings on the merits of the case."
In Malacañang, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said the position of the Philippines remains the same, and that is to peacefully resolve territorial disputes in accordance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“Our basic position is to promote the freedom of navigation recognizing that the South China Sea or the West Philippine Sea is one of the most important arteries for global commerce,” he said.
“We have always maintained that all disputes pertaining to maritime entitlements in body of water will have to be resolved peacefully in accordance with the rules such as those contained in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea,” Coloma added.
Victory for PHL
In an initial legal setback for China and a victory for the Philippines, which filed the case in January 2013, the tribunal has set hearings and said that it expects to hand down a ruling on the case next year.
The tribunal rejected China’s position that the court cannot assume jurisdiction over the case because it deals with sovereignty over the features in the resource-rich waters, which it says is beyond its scope under the UNCLOS.
Filipino government officials and diplomats said the Philippines ran into a "dead end" when it tried to resolve territorial disputes with China through nearly two decades of bilateral talks, prompting the country to eventually decide to bring the long-simmering conflicts to international arbitration.
The seven issues include a move by the Philippine government to invalidate China’s nine-dash line, the country's basis to claim almost all of the South China Sea.
Another Philippine submission, on the other hand, needs to be clarified and narrowed by the court.
China, which insists on its “indisputable” and “historical” claim over virtually the entire waters in the South China Sea, did not participate in the proceedings, saying it does not recognize the Philippines’ case.
After assuming jurisdiction on the Philippine case, a hearing on the merits of the Philippines’ claims will be convened by the tribunal soon.
“In consultation with the parties, the tribunal has provisionally set the dates for the merits hearing,” a statement issued by the tribunal said, adding that it will not be open to the public.
However, it said the tribunal will consider requests from interested states to send small delegations of observers.
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/542550/news/world/china-urges-phl-to-resume-talks-on-maritime-dispute
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