Unfazed by threats of sanctions from China, the government yesterday said it was pursuing its case in the United Nations challenging Beijing’s claim to most of the South China Sea, including areas Manila says is part of Philippine territory. The Philippines is to file as scheduled its memorandum or formal pleading Sunday (Manila time), which would allow the UN Arbitral Tribunal to study Manila’s argument that the Chinese claim covers parts of Filipino territory. President Aquino’s deputy spokesperson Abigail Valte said the government was pursuing the case despite official Chinese warnings of a fallout in bilateral relations. China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Hong Lei warned the Philippines on Wednesday against proceeding with the UN case. “China will never accept nor participate in the international arbitration unilaterally initiated and pushed by the Philippines, and China’s position has a solid basis in international law,” Hong told a news conference in Beijing. “We hope that the Philippine side … returns to the right track of resolving the dispute through negotiation and consultation as soon as possible, (and) stops going any further down the wrong track so as to avoid further damage to bilateral relations.” Read more: newsinfo.inquirer.net/589971/ph-defies-china-warning#ixzz2xJ3K7z00
Posted on: Sat, 29 Mar 2014 00:20:22 +0000
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