PH makes ‘impassioned plea’ vs China before UN tribunal

Map shows the disputed Paracel and Spratly islands in the South China Sea. AFP

The Philippine delegation has begun presenting its arguments before the United Nations International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) at The Hague, Netherlands, Malacañang said Wednesday.

As the head of the team, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario “explained the reason for the Philippines’ decision to seek arbitration in the current maritime dispute with China,” the Department of Foreign Affairs also said.

BACKSTORY: Sea row case hearing on jurisdiction of UN court starts Tuesday | Palace: PH firm on pushing plea vs China claim

Del Rosario “made an impassioned plea for the Tribunal to recognize its jurisdiction due to the importance of the case not just to our country but to the entire world owing to its impact on the application of the Rule of Law in maritime disputes,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a statement.

As China claims about 90 percent of the South China Sea, the Philippines is asking the UN tribunal to declare the claim invalid and violative of international law. The Philippines is currently arguing for the jurisdiction of the arbitral tribunal on the case.

China declined to participate in the proceedings and has instead continued to build islands in the disputed areas.

The oral argument began July 7 and will end July 13 or earlier.

After Del Rosario, the Philippines’ chief counsel for the case, Paul Richler, “presented the justification for the tribunal’s jurisdiction over the Philippine claims under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),” the DFA statement said.

“Professor Philippe Sands followed Reichler’s presentation by stating that the Philippines did not raise questions of sovereignty over land or raise questions of maritime delimitation,” Valte added.

The first round of the hearings will continue on Wednesday, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the morning session and from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. for the afternoon session (Netherlands time).

China has repeatedly cited its “indisputable sovereignty” over the South China Sea as basis for its actions such as the reclamation of reefs turning them into artificial islands capable of hosting military structures, equipment, and personnel.

DFA said  the second day of the oral arguments would involve the Philippines’ lawyers explaining “how the Philippine case did not fall under the specific UNCLOS exemptions which would preclude the tribunal from hearing the case.”

“They also will present strong arguments regarding the strength of the Philippines’ environmental and fishing claims against China,” the agency said.

The Philippine legal team is expected to summarize the Philippines’ case and reply to questions to be raised by the tribunal before the oral arguments conclude on July 13,” it said.

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