PH gov’t’s strategy in sea row ‘not effective,’ says solon

Protesters display placards during a rally outside China’s consular office in Manila on April 17, 2015 against China’s reclamation and construction activities on islands and reefs in the Spratly Group of the South China Sea that are also claimed by the Philippines. Philippine President Benigno Aquino warned on April 14 that China’s efforts to stake its claim to most of the South China Sea could spark fear around the world, with military conflict possible. AFP FILE PHOTO

The Philippines’ strategy in dealing with the maritime dispute with China at the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) is “not effective” and is being “mishandled,” a lawmaker said Saturday.

Former Manila Mayor and now Buhay party-list Representative Lito Atienza said the Philippine government should reexamine its foreign policy in dealing with the maritime dispute with China at the gas-rich West Philippine Sea.

“Our foreign relations are not effective,” Atienza said in an interview over Radyo Inquirer 990AM, adding that the government has mishandled the maritime dispute with China.

He said the government needs to have a “fresher look” in dealing with the maritime issue, saying the government should pursue its case before the United Nations (UN).

The Philippine government has filed a series of diplomatic protests before the UN arbitration tribunal to challenge China’s claim and stress the Philippines’ right to its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

China, however, has declined to recognize the diplomatic protests and continued its massive reclamation over the disputed islands.

READ: China: Reclamation to go on

Even with China’s refusal to acknowledge the country’s diplomatic protests, Atienza said the Philippines should continue to pursue a “peaceful solution” through the intervention of the UN.

“We have to pursue our case. Daanin natin sa korte at huwag sa yabang (We should let that court decide the case and (not exacerbate the situation) by boasting),” he said.
He said the government should focus on the protests the Philippines has filed before the UN instead aggravating the issue.

“Let’s do it diplomatically pero masugid at ‘wag natin tantanan (Let’s do it diplomatically and actively; we shouldn’t stop).” He said.

The lawmaker said that the government is aggravating the Philippines dispute with China with the recent military and naval exercise it has entered to with the United States and Japan.

READ: PH, US, Japan to hold naval drills near disputed waters

“Kaya lalong nagagalit ang China (It upsets China),” he said.

But the Philippines has denied that recent defense exercises with other countries have to do with the maritime dispute with China.

On Friday, a survey by the Social Weather Stations said that eight in 10 Filipinos are worried that the territorial dispute with China could lead into an “armed conflict.”

READ: SWS: Filipinos fear ‘armed conflict’ with China over sea row

The Philippine will argue its case at the UN court in Netherlands on July. The UN is expected to issue a decision the maritime disputed in 2016. IDL