PHL to be neutral on sea disputes as ASEAN Summit host

Even as it stands as a key figure in disputes over the South China Sea, the Philippines is expected to be neutral on the issue as this year’s chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.

Ambassador Marciano Paynor, director general for operations of the ASEAN 2017 National Organizing Council, said the Philippines, led by President Rodrigo Duterte, will likely not mention its victory before the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which invalidated China’s sweeping claims over South China Sea waters.

“Malamang hindi mabanggit sa Chairman’s Statement dahil patuloy na pinag-uusapan ito,” Paynor told News To Go on Wednesday.

“It (statement) is a work in progress, the draft is being made. Ang ano kasi diyan, kung ikaw ang chair, neutral diyan ang view mo. You have to take a neutral stance. The other leaders, they look up to you, but you cannot impose your own issues and decisions,” he added.

The Chairman’s Statement is the final document issued by the host country in behalf of other ASEAN leaders, where a summary of points of agreement are provided.

Paynor noted that ASEAN “culture” stands on consensus, and unlike its Western counterparts, controversial issues like territorial disputes are usually addressed indirectly among the heads of the member-states.

“Itong mga ganito, nadi-discuss mostly on the technical working groups, even sa ministerial [level]. Pagkataas, it has to be… lahat ng mga nasasabi sa Summit [on that level] ay panglahat,” he added.

“‘Yun kasi ang, kumbaga, ang kultura natin sa ASEAN. Kung sa ibang multilateral fora ‘yan, diretsahan—they name the country, the person, ganiyan—tayo, kumbaga blind item, pero alam natin kung sino ang pinag-uusapan natin,” he went on.

A draft of the Chairman’s Statement indicates that there will be no mention of the July 12 ruling that favors the Philippines.

Some ASEAN leaders will express “serious concerns” over the “escalation of activities” in  the South China Sea, it showed.

However, Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Robespierre Bolivar said the language of the draft statement may still change.

“The communique is still being finalized and will be issued right after the Summit. So at this point we cannot say with certainty how the Communique will read in its final version,” Bolivar told GMA News Online.

Senior ASEAN diplomats are scheduled to meet starting Wednesday in Manila to fine-tune and finalize the wordings of the statement.

Code of conduct

Paynor also noted that unlike his predecessor, Duterte is looking into other ways to resolve the dispute without forcing the arbitral ruling on other countries involved.

The less hostile tone of the draft statement is consistent with the President’s friendly overtones to China and his efforts to de-escalate tensions in the disputed waters between the two countries.

After the summit, China is expected to host a meeting with ASEAN member-countries for the framework of the Code of Conduct in line with the territorial dispute.

“Ang ASEAN, halos walang kasulatan ‘yan. Everything is done by consensus. So when everyone—kung lahat ng sampu [na member-states] ay sumang-ayon sa isang bagay, sa isang issue, obligated sila [to abide by the agreement],” he said.

“Sa ating mga Asian, Southeast Asian countries, ‘pag nagsabi kang ito ang gagawin mo, tutuparin mo maski walang kasulatan,” he added.

ASEAN groups the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. Of these 10, four, namely Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam, have disputes with China in the resource-rich waters. —Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/ALG, GMA News