Locsin: UNCLOS, 2016 ruling on South China Sea 'single out no one'

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Tuesday said territorial issues in South China Sea should be resolved peacefully, adding that countries must be compliant with international law as well as the 2016 abritral victory of Manila.

"A peaceful South China Sea is essential to its protection and sustainable management. Disputes in it should be resolved peacefully in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS and in the recent light of the 2016 Arbitral Award which singles out no one, was carefully crafted as to be unusable as a weapon for disputation; and most helpful in clarifying maritime issues," Locsin said at the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference Session with China.

The Session was also attended by Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

In July 2016, the arbitral court in The Hague, Netherlands invalidated China's nine-dash claim, declaring Philippines' victory over its claims in the South China Sea.

But China, ignored the ruling, insists on its historic rights to defend its massive claims in the South China Sea.

Restore peace in Myanmar

Aside from this, Locsin urged China to help restore peace and freedom in Myanmar, which the Philippine top diplomat dubbed as a "sad land" as the people continue to oppose military coup.

"We remain deeply concerned over developments in Myanmar. The Five-Point Consensus must be swiftly implemented. The Chair’s Special Envoy should be allowed to begin work so unhindered humanitarian assistance be provided," Locsin said.

"My own ambassador in Washington urged there that Myanmar not be excluded from vaccine assistance out of humanitarian concerns; that would be inhuman to do. There is no place for politics where so many lives are at stake," he added.

Locsin said they call for the freedom of detained elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, other political detainees and her foreign adviser.

"ASEAN’s survival as a credible partner for all, including China, hinges on this. This finally is  the test that all in ASEAN feared but we must face it. Can there be ASEAN centrality based on convenience rather than principle? Convenience by definition can never be principled," he also said in his message. -- BAP, GMA News