Shoal dispute won’t be solved under Aquino – Escudero

President Benigno Aquino III. AP/Bullit Marquez

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Francis Escudero on Sunday advised Malacañang to take it easy on asserting its claim over the disputed Scarborough (Panatag) shoal as the decades-old territorial dispute is unlikely to be resolved within the term of President Benigno Aquino III.

“We should not pressure ourselves into resolving the issue within the year or next year or within the term of the President,” said Escudero who noted that Malacañang’s hawkish stance on the territorial dispute with China has only made the issue more complicated.

Escudero pointed out that the issue has been lingering for the last 30 to 50 years and it has only been during this administration that ownership of the islands has been overblown.

“It should not have been made more complicated than it is. We are already asking China to leave the area, but what if it orders us to leave?  What will happen then? I believe that the issue will be resolved by the next generation when both sides that have more broader mind-sets have lightened up,” said Escudero.

Escudero said that the government should realize that it lacked the money, ships and airplanes to take control over the disputed islands and move on to other more urgent matters confronting the country.

“We have more urgent things to spend our time on than Panatag where we are at a disadvantage,” said Escudero.  “Things will work out in time. We should not let it go but we should also not force the issue. We should not leave it but we should not also rush in resolving it.”