PH to China on sea row: Respect rule of law, honor UN tribunal ruling

Philippines’ President Benigno Aquino III listens during the 27th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015. (AP Photo/Joshua Paul)

KUALA LUMPUR — The Philippines is not giving up its claims on the South China Sea as President Aquino once again pressed China to respect the rule of law and honor the ruling of the United National arbitral tribunal that it has jurisdiction over the maritime dispute case.

“As the arbitration process we have entered into continues to its logical conclusion, we are hopeful that China would honor its word and respect the rule of law. The world is watching and expects no less from a responsible global leader,” said Aquino at the 10th East Asia summit which was also attended by China.

READ: Aquino says ‘world is watching’ China in sea row

Countries which participated at the summit were the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)–Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos, Burma (Myanmar), Vietnam, Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand, and Brunei–with Australia, People’s Republic of China, Republic of India, Japan, Republic of Korea and New Zealand.

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Premier Li Kequiang represented China in the two-day 27th Asean summit held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center.

“It is regrettable that China continues to massively reclaim and build structures in the sea known by many names, in total disregard of international law as well as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea,” said Aquino.

He said many countries have expressed serious concerns that the actions of China “threaten freedom of navigation and unimpeded lawful commerce in one of the world’s most strategic waterways.”