ShareThisPhl, American, China leaders
to tackle row at ASEAN summit
MANILA — President Benigno S. Aquino III is expected to seek the support of the United States and US President Barack Obama in resolving the claims over the Spratlys group of islands and reefs which is believed to be rich in gas deposits.
The Philippine leader will meet the US President and leaders of other claimant countries like China during the 21st ASEAN Summit in Cambodia next week.
Any US backing calling for the adherence to the rule of law in resolving the West Philippine Sea dispute would be a great help for the Philippine advocacy in resolving the dispute peacefully, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.
In a media briefing in Malacanang on President Aquino’s attendance to the 21st ASEAN Summit in Cambodia, Foreign Affairs Spokesman Raul Hernandez said the help of US President Barack Obama for the peaceful resolution of the issue would be a welcome development for the ASEAN and the Philippines.
“Being one of the dialogue partners, it would enhance the relationship between the US and ASEAN and I think the focus is really on ASEAN and its relationship with the United States,” Hernandez said.
“Whatever help the dialogue partners — including the US — (can give) in trying to pursue a peaceful settlement of issues in the West Philippine Sea, in accordance with the international law particularly the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, would be a great help to our advocacy,” he said.
Hernandez said they also expect positive developments not only in the West Philippines Sea issue but also in the East Sea, which is also a conflict area between Japan and China.
Aquino will push for the peaceful resolution in the West Philippine Sea, hoping that leadership change in China will enhance cooperation with the Philippines and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
The President will leave for Cambodia on weekend to attend the 21st ASEAN Summit and other related summits, which China and the United States will also attend.
Hernandez said the President may raise the West Philippine Sea issue when he attends the plenary and retreat sessions with other leaders Sunday.
“The West Philippine Sea or the maritime security and cooperation is one of our advocacies and it will be in this context will we push the discussion of this issue,” Hernandez said.
While the leadership change is a domestic activity in China, Hernandez said the Philippines hopes that with the change, there would be a positive development in the relationship between ASEAN and China as well as between China and the Philippines.
“That’s why we are also expecting that with the developments there, there would be an onward development as far as marine security and cooperation is concerned,” he said.
With regard to the discussions over the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, Hernandez said it would be one of the topics for discussion with China in the ASEAN-China Summit.
The initial ASEAN agreement, the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties on the South China Sea, will reach its 10th year this year, the foreign affairs official said.
Hernandez added that after the discussions, they expect China will commit on starting the negotiation on the Code of Conduct for the good and stability and the peace in the region.
Asked if the President will push for a timeline on the drafting of this Code of Conduct with China, Hernandez said the ASEAN is ready to negotiate with China and already has the elements of the COC.
“We hope that China would respond positively and immediately tackle this concern so that we can have something binding for our issue on the West Philippine Sea,” he said.
At the same time, Hernandez said they expect that with the six-point principles initiated by Indonesia, the ASEAN and China could move forward in connection with the West Philippine Sea issue.
Foreign ministers failed to agree on a joint communiqué on this the issue several months ago, raising perceptions about rifts in the relationships among the ASEAN-member countries.
While he can’t tell how lengthy the discussion would be on maritime issues, the important thing is the Philippines is focused on pointing the need for a peaceful resolution of the disputes in accordance with international law particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Hernandez said.
Also joining ASEAN leaders in the 21st ASEAN Summit are the leaders of Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of South Korea, Russia and the United States.