SECRETARY DEL ROSARIO SAYS PHL RECOURSE TO ARBITRATION A FRIENDLY ATTEMPT FOR DURABLE SOLUTION TO SOUTH CHINA SEA TENSION 2 July 2013 – Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario today said that the Philippine recourse to arbitration is an open and friendly attempt to find a durable solution to the increasing tension in the South China Sea. Addressing the 20th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting in Bandar Seri Begawan, Secretary del Rosario said that “it is unfortunate that the member-State declined our invitation to join us in this arbitration.” “From the Philippine perspective, a rules-based approach in the management and resolution of disputes in the South China Sea has two complementary elements: first, the early conclusion of a legally-binding and substantive COC, envisaged in the ASEAN-China DOC; and second, third party arbitration of maritime disputes under UNCLOS,” Secretary del Rosario underscored. The Foreign Affairs Secretary emphasized that while all parties are undertaking to expeditiously pursue the conclusion of a Code of Conduct (COC), they must comply in utmost good faith with the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in its entirety. “More important than joint cooperative undertakings, the DOC’s core principles are peaceful settlement of disputes, restraint in the conduct of parties, the non-use of force, respect for international law including UNCLOS, and non-occupation of unoccupied rocks, reefs, shoals and other features in the South China Sea,” Secretary del Rosario stressed. He added that the Philippines is encouraged with the discussions at the recent ASEAN-China Post Ministerial Conference in Bandar Seri Begawan on 30 June on the need to conclude the COC envisaged in the DOC as soon as possible. “We look forward to the start of official consultations towards this end at the 6th ASEAN-China SOM (Senior Officials’ Meeting) and the 9th JWG (Joint Working Group) on the Implementation of the DOC this coming September. The Philippines is fully committed to work with all ASEAN members in partnership with China,” Secretary del Rosario added. END
Posted on: Tue, 02 Jul 2013 05:41:35 +0000
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