Palace invokes Hague ruling for the first time
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Sat, 13 Apr 2019 10:49:13 +0000
Malacañang for the first time invoked Manila’s international court victory against Beijing’s claim to the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) after the Chinese government claimed that the Spratlys or Kalayaan Group of Islands were part of its territory.
In a statement, Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said that while the government agreed with China that the dispute could be settled peacefully, it was already known that Spratlys belongs to the Philippines.
“We concur with the Chinese official’s statement that the dispute can be best threshed out through peaceful negotiation and consultation between the two countries just as it will strengthen the Philippines-China relationship towards a solid partnership beneficial to Filipino and Chinese communities,” Panelo said.
“The arbitral ruling, however, has already been rendered and we remain steadfast in maintaining our claims with respect to our territory and exclusive economic zones pursuant not only to the said arbitral judgment based on accepted principles of public international law, but consistent with the directives of our Constitution and the aspirations of the Filipino people,” he added.
The Palace official stressed that China should stop performing acts that would disrupt the peace in the disputed waters.
“It is our principled stand that the peace in the West Philippine Sea should be maintained and that China should avoid performing acts that will place at risk the Filipino fishermen fishing in the disputed areas and at the same time cause irritants that will disrupt the current friendly relations of the two countries as well as imperil future bilateral negotiations on matters of mutual concern,” Panelo said.
More protests
Panelo made the statement after China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Lu Kang maintained that Spratlys, which China calls the Nansha Islands, were Chinese territory.
“The Nansha Islands are China’s territory, which is backed by sufficient historical and jurisprudential evidence,” Lu said in his regular press conference.
“For thousands of years, Chinese fishermen have been fishing in these waters in the South China Sea,” he added. “Their rights should not be challenged.”
Lu made the statement after Panelo this week said that the Chinese vessels should leave the vicinity of the Philippine-held islands in the West Philippine Sea, saying that their presence was a violation of the country’s sovereignty.
The military’s Western Command had reported the presence of some 600 vessels near Pag-asa (Thitu) Island, the largest of Philippine-occupied islands in the disputed waters.
Panelo said the government would be filing another diplomatic protest with Beijing should the Chinese vessels refuse to get out.
“[We are filing the protest] because they cannot be intruding in our territorial property. [By filing], they will know that we are against it. That we will not allow it. That we will not tolerate such presence in our territory,” Panelo said.
“They should [go away]. They have no business being there,” the Palace official added.
Last week, President Rodrigo Duterte told China to lay off Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea, promising action should something bad happen to Filipinos there.
“Let us be friends, but do not touch Pag-asa Island and the rest. Otherwise, things would be different. This is not a warning, this is just a word of advice to my friends kasi kaibigan tayo ng (because we are a friend of) China,” he said.
The President also said he would not rule out bloodshed if the Chinese would harm Filipinos on Pag-asa Island.
“So, nakikiusap ako (I am asking you). I will not plead or beg, but I am just telling you to lay off the Pag-asa because may mga sundalo ako diyan. ‘Pag ‘yan ang ginalaw ninyo, ibang istorya na ‘yan (I have soldiers there. If you harm them, then that will be a different story),” he said.
Nine-dash line
Since assuming the presidency, Duterte has sought to downplay Manila’s maritime dispute with Beijing in exchange for improved ties with the world’s second-largest economy.
Duterte has also refused to flaunt the Philippines’ victory against China in the United Nations-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in 2016, which invalidated Beijing’s expansive claims to the waters as indicated by its infamous nine-dash-line map.
But the President defended his approach, saying Manila could not yet stand up to Beijing, whose military and economy were far superior.
The arbitration tribunal declared that Filipino fishers enjoy fishing rights at Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal and that the Kalayaan Islands, as well as Panganiban (Mischief) Reef, Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal and Recto (Reed) Bank, are all within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines. China refuses to recognize the ruling. CATHERINE S. VALENTE
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