US intervention in Scarborough row may complicate issue–expert

MANILA, Philippines — The intervention of the United States in the dispute between the Philippines and China over Scarborough Shoal will only “complicate the matter,” a resource person told the Senate in a hearing Friday.

University of the Philippines Professor Merlin Magallona said the dispute between China and the Philippines should be settled only by the two countries.

“We have to review the position of the Philippine government [because] it is necessary that the dispute has to be settled in a peaceful manner on the basis of the means of dispute under the UN [United Nations Charter] by the parties to the dispute themselves,” Magallona said.

“The intervention of the US is not the settlement of the dispute. As a matter of fact, the intervention of the US will complicate the matter,” he added.

Magallona said that the United Nations Convetion on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) has wide dimensions of methods to settle disputes.

“Under the provision of the UNCLOS, there is an obligation on exchange of views with respect to the settlement of the dispute. The Philippines should begin with the obligation in the UNCLOS…I think the process of that negotiation will provide some confidence building measures as an alternative to armed confrontation,” he added.