Lorenzana calls PHL tribunal victory vs. China ‘empty’

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Monday deemed the country's win in the arbitration case that invalidated Beijing's massive claims in the West Philippine Sea as an "empty victory."

The Defense chief compared the developments in the West Philippine Sea during the present and past administration, saying that no one can accuse President Rodrigo Duterte of inaction.

"One cannot accuse the President of inaction because after his bilateral with [Chinese President] Xi [Jinping] our fishermen returned to Panatag to fish, we can resupply our troops on our islands without interference, an agreement was made that both parties cannot occupy new features that non has done so far in compliance with this and there is talk of joint development of gas and oil resources in the area, tourism and trade has flourished specially export of Agri products," Lorenzana said.

"Compare these positive developments from that of the past administration: their action was to go the PCA (Permanent Court of Arbitration) - an international arbitral court, a body not under the UN (United Nations) and doesn't have enforcement mechanism. China did not participate. We won but it is an empty victory," he added.

Lorenzana cited the supposed reactions of China in the Scarborough Shoal standoff which began in 2012 after a Philippine Navy ship figured in a standoff with Chinese ships.

"The Chinese won't leave our EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) and instead in continues to assert its historical rights over the areas within the nine-dash line. Additionally it stopped buying our bananas and pineapples, Chinese tourists dwindled to near zero, and our fishermen were barred from going to Panatag to fish," he said.

"It will take time before the conflict is resolved. Even the Chinese said that maybe we may not be able to resolve this in our lifetime. Maybe our descendants will be wiser. Meantime, let us leverage whatever advantage we have to improve our economy and the capabilities of our AFP and help in maintaining regional peace and stability," he added.

Lorenzana issued the remark following the results of the Second Quarter 2018 Social Weather survey which showed that 87 percent of adult Filipinos say it is important that the Philippines regains control of the islands occupied by China in the West Philippine Sea.

The survey which was conducted from June 27 to 30 questioned the respondents: "In your opinion, is it important that the control of the islands that China currently occupied in the West Philippine Sea be given back to the Philippines?"

The results showed that 69 percent answered that it is very important, 18 percent somewhat important, 1 percent somewhat not important, and 1 percent not at all important. Meanwhile, 11 percent were undecided about the matter.

The Defense chief had also questioned the survey, saying that "there must be something wrong with the way the survey questions were crafted."

"What islands will we retake in the first place? Did China take any of our occupied nine islands? No. We are still in control and in occupation. China reclaimed several underwater reefs that are now islands," Lorenzana said.

"Scarborough or Panatag Shoal was lost to the Chinese in 2012. No island belonging to us were ever lost during the time of President Duterte. While Panatag is under the effective control of the Chinese, our fishermen could fish in the area," he added.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, meanwhile, said that the Philippine government has made efforts to assert the country's sovereign rights over Manila-claimed features in the West Philippine Sea, adding that there is no need to publicize the country's every response to Beijing's activities.

In July 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague invalidated China’s claim over most of the resource rich and strategic waterway.

The arbitration tribunal's ruling spelled out the Philippines’ sovereign rights to access offshore oil and gas fields within its 200-nautical mile EEZ.

President Rodrigo Duterte, however, set aside the ruling to avoid confrontation with China but vowed to raise it at the right time during his presidency. —NB, GMA News