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.
The Philippines’ arbitration case against China has moved a step forward after the president of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (Itlos) appointed the second member of the ad hoc tribunal that would deliberate on the country’s bid to stop Chinese incursions into the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday said that it hoped that China would make an official response to the arbitration case it filed before a tribunal under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), maintaining that the case would move forward should China refuse to do so.
The Philippines is confident it has a strong case to win the international arbitration case challenging China’s claim to most of the South China Sea.
Another conflict is brewing in the West Philippine Sea, this time between the Philippines and Taiwan over oil and gas exploration around Ligao Island, the largest islet in the Spratlys group.
The maritime dispute over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) may have spread to this faraway Eurasian country, where 60 political parties, including those from China and the Philippines, are attending the 7th general assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (Icapp).
Leaders of Asian political parties have drafted a declaration calling on the US, China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to convert the disputed South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) from a “zone of conflict into a zone of peace.”
In strongly worded remarks, President Aquino on Tuesday called on all parties to respect the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of coastal states, “irrespective of their size or naval power,” and in conformity with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos).
The 1st Expanded Asean Maritime Forum (EAMF) ended on Friday in Manila with delegates recognizing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) and two regional treaties as the “rules-based” framework for resolving conflicting claims in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
Citing the Philippines’ “very strong” claim to the disputed Spratlys in the West Philippine Sea, international law experts on Friday said China must abide by the established law of the sea convention instead of insisting on historical territorial delineations.
The statement of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) on the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) issue can help ease tension in the region, experts said, after Asean members called for restraint and dialogue Friday.
China has pledged to “work together” with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in implementing a legally binding “code of conduct” aimed at thwarting any major armed conflict in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
