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Philippines softens stance on South China Sea
Looks to ease tension as row with China escalates
By Barbara Mae Dacanay, Bureau Chief
Published: 00:00 July 19, 2012
Looks to ease tension as row with China escalates
By Barbara Mae Dacanay, Bureau Chief
Published: 00:00 July 19, 2012
Manila: The Philippines has softened its stance versus China on contested claims in the South China Sea, in deference to the peaceful mood of the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) and to the overseas development assistance recently extended by China to the Philippine government, observers said.
The purpose is to help ease tensions in the South China Sea, explained Edwin Lacierda, spokesman of President Benigno Aquino.
In all ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian nations) meetings and in other fora, the Philippines has consistently advocated a peaceful and rules-based approach in resolving maritime territorial disputes in accordance with international law, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and has been engaging China in continuing dialogues and consultations, explained Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Erlinda F. Basilio in a statement.
Last Tuesday, President Benigno Aquino also thanked China for its P 5.2 billion (Dh433.33 million) overseas development assistance for the creation of better water supply for 21 million residents in Metro Manila.
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The Philippine government recalled all its ships and did not send any other ship to the Scarborough Shoal (located near central Luzon) despite the continuous presence of Chinese fishing vessels in the contested area.
The Philippines claims the shoal because it is inside the countrys 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone, based on the provisions of UNCLOS.
Earlier, during the foreign ministerial meetings of ASEAN foreign ministers in Cambodia last week, the Philippines remained resolute in exploring the strength of its national interest by insisting that its particular standoff with China over the Scarborough shoal which began in April should be mentioned in the joint communiqué at the end of the meeting.
As a result, the ASEAN foreign ministers were split and failed to reach a consensus, preventing them from signing a joint communiqué.
The strain being felt by ASEAN is not attributable to the Philippines but it was reportedly due to the failure of the
Chair (of the meeting: Cambodia) to gain a consensus (on the issue), explained Basilio.
Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam have all sided with the Philippines to include the dispute of Philippines versus China (or Vietnam versus China) in the foreign ministers joint communique, said Basilio.
But ASEANs division on this issue should no longer be overstretched since the ASEAN ministers have also agreed on the key elements of the proposed Code of Conduct on the South China Sea for discussion with China in September, Basilio explained.
Despite their recent deference to China, Aquino, spokesman Lacierda, and the foreign affairs undersecretary all said that the Philippines will maintain its sovereign rights over Scarborough Shoal, despite its peaceful mood in handling Chinas continuous incursion on the contested shoal.
China, Taiwan, and Vietnam claim the whole of the South China Sea based on old records and the countries respective historical rights. Brunei, Malaysia, and Philippines claim some parts of the Spratly Archipelago in the South China Sea, based on the strength of UNCLOS.
The United States and other countries have called for a peaceful resolution of the South China Sea issue.