Despite sea dispute, PH still bullish on China ties

MANILA, Philippines—Amid unresolved disputes over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), the Philippines has expressed anew its hopes for China to serve as a “positive force” in the Asia Pacific as it continues its rise as an economic and military power in the world.

Speaking before Philippine and US government and business leaders in New York over the weekend, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario also said the Philippines hopes to continue nurturing its relationship with Beijing outside of the current discord.

“We acknowledge China’s role in world affairs and support its peaceful rise. As China becomes stronger and more powerful, it is our hope that China will become a more responsible state and a positive force in the region. To be viewed as a responsible state, China must adhere to and respect the rule of law,” said Del Rosario in remarks at the US-Philippine Society Dinner in New York.

“We maintain that China must also treat all nations, including the Philippines, with respect for equality and sovereignty,” he said in his speech.

Del Rosario touched on the maritime dispute in his speech saying “there has been no forum where I was not expected to tackle the West Philippine Sea issue.”

The Philippines has brought a case before the United Nations Arbitral Tribunal against China’s incursions into the country exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Del Rosario also reiterated yesterday previous denunciations of China’s military buildup in disputed waters, as seen in the continuing presence of its vessels in territories within the Philippine EEZ.

He said China’s nine-dash line claim to almost all territories in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea to the Chinese) was “expansive, excessive and in gross violation of international law,” particularly the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos). The Philippines has invoked this document in taking China to the UN tribunal.

“China’s continuous overwhelming naval and maritime presence in the area is also contributing to the raising of regional tensions,” said Del Rosario.

Del Rosario briefed his audience on the Philippine case in his remarks while reaffirming at the same time the Philippines’ resolve to observe the 2011 agreement between President Aquino and Chinese President Hu Jintao to treat the maritime dispute separately from the overall ties between Manila and Beijing.

Officials have said that taking its case to the UN tribunal was a last-ditch effort by the government to clarify maritime boundaries in the West Philippine Sea, halt Chinese incursions into the established Philippine EEZ and nullify Beijing’s nine-dash line claim.

China has rejected the legal proceedings, reiterating “indisputable sovereignty” over territories within its nine-dash line map. While there remains questions on the enforcement of any outcome, the proceedings continue without Beijing, with the Philippines told to submit a comprehensive memorandum on the merits of the case by March 30, 2014.

Del Rosario said Manila “endeavors to maintain a positive, peaceful and stable relationship with China.”

“I wish to stress that the Philippines is committed to undertake all that is possible to cultivate constructive relations with China in spite of these issues in the West Philippine Sea. We maintain that our disputes in the West Philippine Sea are not the sum total of our relations,” he said.

“The President (Aquino) is firm in his conviction to uphold his agreement with Chinese President Hu Jintao in 2011 not to let the maritime disputes affect the broader picture of friendship and cooperation between the two countries,” said Del Rosario.