ON JULY 12, the UN-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines, saying China’s claim to almost all of the South China Sea had no basis in international law.
“China had violated the Philippines’ sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone by interfering with Philippine fishing and petroleum exploration, by constructing artificial islands and failing to prevent Chinese fishermen from fishing in the zone,” the court said in a statement after handing down its ruling on the case brought by the Philippines against China in 2013.
China refused to accept the decision, with its foreign ministry saying it “does not recognize” the ruling.
Days before the ruling, President Duterte said his administration stood ready to talk to China if the Philippines gets a favorable ruling.
On Aug. 8, former President Fidel V. Ramos, who was appointed special envoy to China to initiate talks with Beijing, left for Hong Kong to start his mission.
He discussed with Chinese representatives the possibility of restoring “traditional fishing rights” in the disputed Scarborough Shoal (Panatag Shoal) and described the overall tone of the backdoor negotiations as “encouraging.”
The idea, according to Ramos, was that “we restore the fishing rights according to the rights accorded by tradition,” which means that fishermen from the two countries, as well as from Vietnam, be allowed in the shoal.
Despite the ruling, there were reports that Philippine fishermen continued to be chased off Scarborough Shoal.
On Aug. 24, Mr. Duterte said he hoped that Beijing was dealing with Manila in good faith over the West Philippine Sea, warning that “it will be bloody” should talks collapse and should Beijing attempt to take over the country. Compiled by Ana Roa, Inquirer Research
Source: Inquirer Archives