PH gov’t has other options to address sea dispute with China—Palace

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine government is not limiting its options to the arbitration case filed before a United Nations tribunal amid its territorial dispute with China, according to one of President Benigno Aquino III’s spokesmen.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma cited the country’s efforts toward a binding “code of conduct” for the South China Sea, most of which has been claimed by Beijing as its territory.

“I don’t think it is accurate for anyone to characterize our strategy as putting our eggs in just one basket because we have been active in all the fora that had given us the opportunity to present our position,” he said in a press briefing.

Last Sunday, the Philippines submitted to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (Itlos) a 10-volume, 4,000-page memorial detailing the basis of its territorial claim over the West Philippine Sea.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario said then that the document was intended to protect “what is legitimately ours.”

But in the event that the government fails to secure a favorable ruling at ITLOS, Coloma noted that the Philippines continued to “engage” other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations toward a peaceful resolution of the dispute.

“There must be an Asean-centric approach considering that there are overlapping [exclusive] economic zones in the claims of the various member countries,” he said.

“So we just continue our policy of peaceful and diplomatic engagement.”

Coloma said the dispute with China could be in the agenda during the visit of United States President Barack Obama within April.

“Defense and security will definitely be a topic in the talks between President Aquino and President Obama. And when you talk of this topic, the most relevant issue that can be discussed would be the West Philippine Sea. So, it is entirely within the realm of possibility,” he said.

“But, I believe, there are other issues that will be tackled since what is involved here is strategic partnership between two countries.”

Coloma also allayed fears that power transmission in the country might be compromised in light of the territorial dispute, considering the partnership between the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines and the State Grid Corp. of China.

“We have taken sufficient measures to ensure that the integrity of the operations of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines is ensured despite the existence of a contractual agreement with the Chinese service provider,” he said, citing information from Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, a former energy secretary.

“At all times, it is Filipino managers and officials that are in control of the important operations of the NGCP. So that is what we have done with respect to that.”

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