Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros said there is a need to ensure a wider recognition of the Philippines from the international community regarding the country’s victory at The Hague International Tribunal on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) arbitration.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros during Wednesday’s deliberation, May 31, 2023 of the Commission on Appointments’ (CA) Committee on Foreign Affairs on the nomination of Henry Sicad Bensurto Jr. as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the Republic of Turkey. (Senate PRIB Photo)
In 2016, the Hague International Tribunal rejected China’s "historical" claim over most parts of the South China Sea and recognized Philippine maritime claim over the WPS.
During the deliberation by the committee on foreign affairs of the Commission on Appointments (CA) on the nomination of Henry Sicad Bensurto Jr. as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the Republic of Turkey, on Wednesday, May 31, Hontiveros asked what steps could be done to ensure a wider recognition of the Philippines with regard to the country’s victory on the issue of West Philippine Sea against China.
Bensurto, expert on the United Nations Convention on rhe Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), said the Philippines’ victory is something that has implication on peace and security in a global basis
“Peace and security is more assured in the larger part of the world based on the rule of law and it is interesting also that in terms of magnitude or proportion not only mathematically but geopolitically as well,’’ he said.
"The Rule of Law must prevail,’’ he added.
Replying to a query by Congressman Rodante Marcoleta, Bensurto said the Scarborough Shoal or Panatag "is ours."
China has harassed Filipino fishermen in the Shoal with their big Coast Guard ships.
Scarborough is some 200 nautical miles east of Zambales or some 800 nautical miles east of Hainan, the easternmost land mass of China.
"It is significant that one million square kilometer of the ocean in our region is no longer disputed compared with the remaining 13,000 square kilometer,” Bensurto said.
“It really means a lot for the people in our region and the people of the whole planet not only for Filipinos," Hontiveros said.
"So it is an important message that our country can share to the rest of the world,” she added.