Palace cites reasons for PHL’s non-aggressive actions vs. China on disputed sea

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 12): Palace cites reasons for PHL’s non-aggressive actions vs. China on disputed sea

Malacanang on Wednesday cited the reasons why the Philippineswould rather “religiously” resort to the diplomatic process on claims on the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) despite China’s openly aggressive attitude on its ownership.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda in a Palace media briefing said that the first reason was to avoid violence.

He said that while the Philippinescontinued to push for its claim on the disputed sea, it will be done “diplomatically” so that it could also “de-escalate tensions.”

“I think we should realize the power of diplomacy, the power of the international support,” Lacierda said. “...That’s the means by which we are exercising our voice as a sovereign nation.”

A second reason Lacierda gave was to show strength of cause: The government maintained that China’s nine-dash line claim is unacceptable because it is not consistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

“Scarborough Shoal is so near to us and so far from China. How can you say that it is theirs? That’s as simple as that,” Lacierda said.

“On the basis of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, it should be ours,” he added.

Lacierda noted that the third reason why the Philippines relies on the diplomatic process is to show that the community of nations believe in a rules-based approach to any conflict.

The Philippineshas already filed the arbitration case before the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).

When asked if Malacanang was willing to review arbitration policies on the disputed sea, Lacierda said that he deferred to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

"With respect to the details, I would defer to AFP and the DFA,” Lacierda said.

“But insofar as the position taken by the Philippine government, that is very, very clear. And the international community knows our position very well, and in fact, supports our position,” he added.

He noted that Malacanang continues to have full trust and confidence in the officials at the forefront of the DFA.

Meanwhile, he also said that Filipino fishermen are still free to fish not only in the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal but within the West Philippine Sea.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=624741