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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PH committed to diplomacy in resolving SCS dispute --- Manalo

PH committed to diplomacy in resolving SCS dispute --- Manalo

Published Feb 21, 2023 02:55 pm

The Philippines will remain committed to diplomacy in resolving illegal claims over the West Philippine Sea, which is part of the also highly-contested South China Sea, despite past and recent actions that are inconsistent with international law.

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo made the pronouncement as he asserted that "no conflict will ever be resolved when even the most basic norms are being violated with impunity."

After meeting with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock in Berlin on Monday, Manalo vowed to maintain a dialogue with other nations in addressing South China Sea-related disputes.

"This, in spite of recent actions or even actions which have been going on for sometime which are inconsistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2002 Declaration on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea," he said in a press conference.

With German's support for the Philippines in upholding the UNCLOS and the negotiations on the sea conduct, Manalo also asserted that "the only way to preserve peace and security is to respect the rule of law."

The country's top diplomat said the Philippines joined Germany in its call "to resolve all disputes through peaceful means and in accordance with the international law."

During his trip to Germany, Manalo also spoke at a high-level security conference, where he complained of the daily incidents of harassments experienced by Filipinos in the West Philippine Sea as well as of reclamation activities, "which in many cases have been depriving the Philippines of the use of our exclusive economic zone (EEZ)."

Manalo did not mention any country in particular, but recently, China has mostly been the subject of the Philippines' diplomatic protests with regard to the West Philippine Sea.

Among China's provocative actions in the Philippine waters included pointing military-grade lasers at the Philippine Coast Guard, forcibly retrieving a rocket wreckage from Philippine authorities and driving away Filipino fishers on the Ayungin Shoal.

Currently, six countries, namely the Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan, are claiming parts over the South China Sea. Meanwhile, China is claiming the whole of South China Sea.

The Philippines is claiming and asserting its rights over the West Philippine Sea, a part of the South China Sea, by citing the UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Ruling. China is rejecting such claim by unilaterally asserting its historical nine-dash line.

Related Tags

dispute DFA Germany Enrique Manalo Philippines South China Sea diplomacy
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