(BGF) – Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario spoke in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ foreign ministers meeting in Bandar Seri Begawan, that “the Philippines shall always adhere to the peaceful settlements of disputes through lawful, non-coercive and transparent means that promote the healthy functioning of an equitable and rules-based international system”, as Jerry reported to the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
The Department of Foreign Affairs head also emphasized the desire to have a legally binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea between ASEAN and China.
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PH to stick with arbitration under UNCLOS to pursue Spratly claims
April 12, 2013| By Jerry E. Esplanada
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines reiterated, on Thursday, its commitment to the peaceful settlement of its claims in the West Philippine Sea or the South China Sea area through arbitration proceedings under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS.
Speaking before the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ foreign ministers meeting in Bandar Seri Begawan, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario emphasized on Thursday, that “the Philippines’ recourse to arbitration is firmly rooted in the tradition of good global citizenship.”
“The Philippines shall always adhere to the peaceful settlements of disputes through lawful, non-coercive and transparent means that promote the healthy functioning of an equitable and rules-based international system,” said the Department of Foreign Affairs head.
Del Rosario asserted that Manila’s arbitration initiative, “when objectively considered, will benefit all parties.”
“For the Philippines, it will clearly define what is legitimately ours, specifically maritime entitlements under the UNCLOS with regards to our fishing rights to resources and our right to enforce our laws within our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ),” he said.
For China, “an arbitration award will finally clarify its lawful maritime entitlements in the South China Sea,” he pointed out.
“This will enable China to provide responsible leadership towards fostering stability in the region,” according to Del Rosario.
At the same time, he reiterated that “the Philippines’ desire to have a legally binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea has not changed.”
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