Philippines on 'right track' over China challenge for a diplomatic blow

Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario (left) delivers a statement on territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Photo: EPA

The Philippines said Wednesday it was on "the right track" in seeking to have a UN tribunal strike down China's claims to most of the West Philippines Sea, after the Chinese government rejected the process.

President Benigno Aquino's chief aide, Rene Almendras, said the government expected China to ignore the plan to bring the matter up at the United Nations and stressed the case could still proceed without Beijing' approval.

"We will follow the process whether they agree to it or not," Alemndras told reporters.

"Of course, we are of the opinion that we are on the right track... we would not have started it if we did not think that we would have enough basis to file all these issuances."

The Philippines announced last month it had applied for its dispute with China over the South China Sea to be arbitrated under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, a 1982 treaty signed by both countries.

The Philippines wants the tribunal to declare Chinese claims to most of the sea, which is believed to sit atop vast natural resources and is home to rich fishing grounds, as unlawful.

But China says it has sovereign rights over nearly all of the West Philippine Sea, even waters approaching the coasts of the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations.

On Tuesday China announced it had rejected the Philippines' call for UN arbitration, insisting on bilateral negotiations with its less powerful neighbor.

Although China has recently sent ships into the West Philippine Sea to enforce its claims and established a local government to rule over the contested waters, it warned the Philippines not to increase tensions.

"The Philippine side (should) keep its word not to take any action that magnifies and complicates the issue," foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters in Beijing.

Under the UN convention's rules, the arbitration can proceed even if China declines to participate.

China can choose to ignore any eventual ruling by the tribunal. Nevertheless, a UN verdict that its claims were unlawful would be a diplomatic blow. (http://on-msn.com/XMxJbE)

MSN News

Continue reading

China returns Philippine notice on U.N. suit - ITLOS case will proceed without China in Feb 22

Hong-Lei

By VERA Files

China yesterday announced that it returned the Philippine notification of its suit filed at a United Nations arbitral handed to the Chinese ambassador in Manila last Jan 22, a Xinhua report said.

The report carried by China.org.cn said "The Chinese government has rejected a Philippine move to take their dispute regarding sovereignty issues in the South China Sea to the United Nations for arbitration, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Tuesday."

It quoted Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei saying,"Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Ma Keqing had an appointment with officials from the Philippines' Foreign Ministry on Tuesday and returned a note and related notice after expressing China's rejection."

The Department of Foreign Affairs issued this statement: "The Department received this afternoon from Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Ma Keqing a Note Verbale stating that China rejects and returns the Philippines' Notification and Statement of Claim.

"The Department stresses that China's action will not interfere with the process of Arbitration initiated by the Philippines on January 22, 2013. The Arbitration will proceed under Annex VII of UNCLOS and the 5-member arbitration panel will be formed with or without China."

"In its Note Verbale, China reiterated its often stated position that it has indisputable sovereignty over the entire South China Sea encompassed by its 9-dash line claim. This excessive claim is the core issue of the Philippines' arbitration case against China."

"The Philippines remains committed to Arbitration which is a friendly, peaceful and durable form of dispute settlement that should be welcomed by all."

Xinhua quoted Hong as saying that "The note and related notice not only violate the consensus enshrined in the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), but are also factually flawed and contain false accusations."

The report said, "China is committed to addressing the dispute through bilateral talks, Hong said, noting that the consensus in the DOC states that disputes should be solved through talks between the nations directly involved.

Hong reiterated that China has sufficient historical and jurisprudential evidence to support its claim to the Nansha islands, which are located in the South China Sea, and their adjacent waters, the report also said.

"China hopes the Philippines will honor its commitment by not taking any action that could complicate the issue, positively respond to China's proposal to establish a bilateral dialogue mechanism on maritime issues and work to solve the issue through bilateral negotiations," Hong said.

Under the UN arbitral court rules, China has until Feb. 22 to appoint an arbitrator. If it fails to do so, the case will proceed and the president of the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), Japanese ex-diplomat and jurist Shunji Yanai, will appoint an arbitrator on behalf of China from a list of arbitrators to be provided by the UN Secretary General.

Following is the official transcript of Hong's briefing which was conducted in Chinese:

Chinese Spokesperson Hong Lei's remarks on China returned the Philippines' Notification on the submission of South China Sea issue to international Arbitration

Q: It is said that China has returned the Philippines' Notification on the submission of South China Sea issue to international Arbitration, please confirm.

A: China's position on the South China Sea issue is consistent and clear. China's sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and their adjacent waters is supported by abundant historical and legal evidence. Meanwhile, bearing in mind the larger interest of China-Philippines relations and regional peace and stability, China has remained committed to resolving the disputes through bilateral negotiations, and has made every effort to maintain stability and to promote regional cooperation in the South China Sea. To resolve the disputes through negotiations by sovereign states directly concerned is also the consensus between China and ASEAN countries as stipulated in the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). The Philippines' Note Verbale and the attached Notification not only runs counter to the consensus, but also contains many grave errors both in fact and in law, and includes many false accusations against China. China firmly opposes to this.

On Feb. 19, Ambassador of China to the Philippines Ma Keqing met with officials of Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, and stated that the Chinese side rejected and returned the Philippines' Note Verbale and the attached Notification.

The Chinese side hopes that the Philippine side keeps its word, not to take any action that magnifies and complicates the issue, responds positively to China's proposals on establishing a bilateral regular consultation mechanism on maritime issues, resumes the operation of the Confidence Building Measures Mechanism(CBMs) as established between the two countries, and reverts to the right track of settling the disputes through bilateral negotiations.

(VERA Files is put out by veteran journalists taking a deeper look at current issues. Vera is Latin for "true.") (http://bit.ly/153aWyx)

Yahoo!

Continue reading