PHL not pressuring China over arbitration of maritime disputes, says Palace official

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 24): PHL not pressuring China over arbitration of maritime disputes, says Palace official
 

A Palace official denied on Sunday that the Philippines is trying to pressure China over an arbitration of the South China Sea disputes.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi described the Philippines’ move to present its case against China to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague as "either political arrogance or legal prejudice.”

Wang, who was in Cambodia to meet with his counterpart Prak Sokhonn last Friday, said China wants the maritime row to be resolved peacefully through negotiations between the parties directly concerned.

The UN Charter and international law encourages peaceful settlement of rows through dialogue. The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), on the other hand, respects the decision of the parties concerned to choose how to settle the disagreement.

“Malinaw na hindi lamang ang Pilipinas ang naniniwalang makatuwiran ang paghain ng petisyon sa Court of Arbitrations sa The Hague,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. in an interview over Radyo ng Bayan.

Coloma noted the declaration signed by the participants of the ASEAN-United States Special Summit in California last February which stated “Shared commitment to maintain peace, security and stability in the region, ensuring maritime security and safety, including the rights of freedom of navigation and overflight and other lawful uses of the seas, and unimpeded lawful maritime commerce as described in the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as well as non-militarization and self-restraint in the conduct of activities.”

“Iyan din ang buod ng posisyon ng Pilipinas sa pagsusulong sa mapayapa at rules-based approach. Bilang bahagi ng international community, ang paghahain ng Pilipinas ng petisyon sa Permanent Court of Arbitration ay isang matibay na pagpapatunay sa pagtataguyod ng nasabing prinsipyo,” Coloma added.

Coloma said that participants of the G7 Foreign Ministers meeting held two weeks ago in Hiroshima, Japan want the maritime disputes between the Philippines and China to be settled peacefully.

“Dalawang linggo lamang ang nakakaraan, dito rin sa buwang Abril 2016, sa pagpupulong ng mga G7 Foreign Ministers sa Hiroshima, Japan, ipinahayag ng mga foreign ministers ng Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan at United States ang kanilang malakas na pagtutol sa 'intimidating, coercive or provocative unilateral actions that could alter the status quo and increase tensions' sa South China Sea o West Philippine Sea para sa atin,” said Coloma.

“Idiniin din nila ang kahalagahan ng “peaceful management and settlement of maritime disputes through applicable internationally recognized legal dispute settlement mechanisms, including arbitration,” Coloma added.

“Klaro na ang makatuwirang posisyon ng Pilipinas sa usaping ito ay kinakatigan at umaani pa ng suporta ng maraming bansa. At malayong-malayo doon sa ipinaparating,” said Coloma.

According to the Chinese foreign minister, China is exercising its legitimate right to reject a compulsory arbitration. He said China made a declaration that excludes a compulsory arbitration in 2006 under the Article 298 of the UNCLOS.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=879206