PNoy urges ASEM leaders to prioritize South China Sea dispute

President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday told Asian and European leaders that the territorial dispute in the South China Sea should be among the priorities of the international community, not just of the claimant countries. Speaking at the fourth session (regional issues) of the 9th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Vientiane, Laos, Aquino said ensuring peace and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea should be “a priority issue not only for the Philippines and the region, but also for the wider international community.” He highlighted South China Sea's importance in the global trade, saying as many as 50,000 ships pass through the disputed body of water, many of them from Europe. He said the Philippines only claims the West Philippine Sea, which is a portion of the South China Sea within its exclusive economic zone. The West Philippine Sea covers 200 nautical miles of waters from the country's western coast, including the Spratly islands and Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, which are being claimed by China and other Southeast Asian states.

Rules-based approach Aquino said the Philippines continues to advocate a rules-based approach as “the most legitimate, most appropriate, and durable means to address conflicting maritime and territorial claims.” “We remain firmly committed to the fair and peaceful settlement of disputes in the West Philippine Sea, in accordance with international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,” he said. Aquino, however, failed to meet with any Chinese official during the ASEM. Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the Vientiane Declaration on Strengthening Partnership for Peace and Development adopted by the 51-member ASEM included a provision on refraining use of force against the sovereignty of any state. “(We) renewed our commitment to refrain from the act of threat or the use of force in any manner inconsistent with the UN charter and international law against the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of any state and to seek peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue, negotiations and other means in accordance with the UN Charter and international law,” part of the Declaration read. Coloma said speaking in behalf of the European Council, President Herman Van Rompuy reaffirmed the European Union's full support to the peaceful resolution of disputes in the West Philippine Sea in the ASEM plenary session on regional issues. Aquino's speech followed Rompuy’s speech. Six-point principle In his speech, Aquino said the Associated of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has agreed on the Six-Point Principles on the West Philippine Sea last July, and that the Philippines and China remain committed to enhancing bilateral relations. “The Philippines looks forward to the early convening of negotiations on a legally binding regional Code of Conduct, parallel to the full and active implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea,” he said. He said such measures are meant to ensure that existing tensions do not escalate into open conflict. “And this is an endeavor in which we must all take part. After all, it is in our collective interests to ensure peace, harmony, stability, and safety and freedom of navigation in the West Philippine Sea. This is fundamental not only for the continued economic growth and prosperity of Asia, but for the rest of the world as well,” Aquino said.  Aquino was scheduled to return to Manila at 9 p.m. Tuesday. — KBK, GMA News