UK calls for ‘rules-based’ solutions to West PH Sea dispute

United Kingdom’s Secretary of State William Hague. Photo from gov.uk

MANILA, Philippines – The United Kingdom called for “rules-based” solutions rather than “power-based” solutions to the territorial disputes in the South China Sea (West Philippines Sea) where China has recently been growing more assertive in its claims.

“We always encourage, not just here but all over the world, a rules-based rather than a power-based solution to disputes,” William Hague, UK secretary of state for foreign affairs said Thursday.

“I urge all parties to these disputes to seek peaceful and cooperative solutions in accordance with international law. The UK, although not a claimant in these disputes, has an interest, as all nations do, in peaceful and rules-based resolutions,” he said during his speech before members of the diplomatic community.

China and the Philippines are locked in a territorial dispute over the resource-rich region which China claims in its entirety including portions of the Philippines 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Tensions have escalated in the region after a standoff in April 2012 between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the Scarborough Shoal.

In January 2014, tensions escalated anew after Hainan province began implementing a new fisheries regulation that prohibits foreign ships from conducting fishing or survey activities in South China Sea without permission from Chinese regional authorities.

The Philippines has since filed a case before the United Nations Permanent Court of Arbitration against China and is set to submit its written arguments in March 2014.

China has since refused to participate in the arbitration proceedings insisting that the entire South China Sea was part of its territory.

Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei have their respective territorial claims in the South China Sea.

“Global stability and growth depend not just on what countries do themselves, but also on what they do together and organizations such as ASEAN have an important role to play,” Hague said.

“In the international system and within states themselves, a principled and rules-based approach will be critical to stability and growth in the long term,” he said.

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