PHL may start talks with China soon —ex-PHL rep to UN

The Philippine government has a plan of action following the arbitral tribunal's ruling on the territorial dispute with China, said former Philippine representative to the United Nations Lauro Baja.

"Mauuwi sa negotiations, talks between the Philippines and China," Baja told GMA News' Arnold Clavio on "Unang Balita."

"Ang paniwala ko talaga, you cannot solve a problem, especially a bilateral problem without talking to each other," he added.

Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Wednesday also said the Philippine government should talk to the Chinese government to allow Filipino fishermen to fish in disputed waters.

“We have to talk to China to now allow us to go there because the tribunal said we have a tradition fishing right together with Chinese fishermen. Definitely we have a right to go there,” he said in an interview on Unang Hirit.

The arbitral tribunal ruled against China, invalidating its claims in the South China Sea.

"The  Tribunal  concluded that  there  was  no  legal  basis  for  China  to claim  historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within the ‘nine-dash line,’" the Permanent Court of Arbitration said in a news release.

"[Although] two Chinese navigators and fishermen, as well as those of other States, had historically made use of the islands in the South China Sea, there was no evidence that China had historically exercised exclusive control over the waters or  their  resources," it added.

Baja also said that the Filipino fishermen affected by the territorial dispute over the South China Sea would be the first to feel the effect of the ruling.

"Nabalitaan ko, somehow, during the last few weeks, nakakalapit ang mangingisda natin. Baka naman as a result of the decision mas papayagan na nila," the former ambassador said.

China earlier said that it would not accept any third party dispute-settlement or any solution imposed on it.

Baja explained that no sanctions could be imposed on China if it refuses to abide by the court ruling.

But the Philippine government has the option of raising the issue with the United Nations General Assembly.

"We can also approach UN security council, but this would be difficult because China is permanent member and they have veto power," he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte, who convened a Cabinet meeting a few hours afte the court ruling was released, earlier stated that he is open to bilateral talks with China.

Baja said: "We have the advantage of having a new admin, we can adopt a fresh approach, we can recalibrate our approach. Yun naman ay nahayag ni President Duterte na hihintayin lang yung ruling bago sila gumawa ng ibang hakbang."

"And I hope this will lead to a more strategic management of the issues in the area," he added.

Baja said the national government would have to plan well before making a move.

"Binabantayan ng international community not only yung reaction of China, which is predictable. But kung ano'ng gagawin ng Pilipinas now that nanalo tayo," he explained. — Bernadette A. Parco/DVM, GMA News