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Gov’t continues to assert sovereign rights in West Philippine Sea -Palace
By VIRGIL LOPEZ, GMA News The Duterte administration continues to assert the country’s sovereign rights over islands and features in the West Philippine Sea, Malacañang said Wednesday.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque issued the statement after a poll conducted by the Social Weather Stations this month found that seven out of 10 Filipinos believe that the government should assert the country’s maritime claims
“As we have said in previous occasions, the Philippine government continues to assert our rights over the disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea in accordance with the 2016 arbitral ruling,” he said.
“We have not waived nor have we relinquished these rights. Unfortunately, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruling has no way of being enforced by the body which rendered it, so we must look to other means to resolve the dispute.”
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The Philippines on Sunday urged China to comply with the arbitration ruling that nullified Beijing’s claim to nearly the entire South China Sea, a portion of which Manila refers to as the West Philippine Sea.
Beijing immediately rejected Manila’s call as it insisted that the decision was “illegal and invalid.” China’s rival, the United States, expressed solidarity with Southeast Asian nations locked in maritime disputes with the Asian powerhouse.
“While we are looking at peaceful and diplomatic means to resolve the issues surrounding the West Philippine Sea, these do not make up the sum total of our relations with China,” Roque said.
“We agree to disagree on the arbitral tribunal ruling and will proceed with our bilateral relations with China, especially on matters related to trade and the economics.” —AOL, GMA News