Zubiri: PH to assert UNCLOS on APPF drafting of maritime security reso

The Philippines will assert the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS) during the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum's discussions on draft resolutions on maritime security issues and on the promotion of regional peace and stability.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Speaker Martin Romualdez made the statement during a press conference before the official opening of the 31st APPF hosted by the Philippines.

"That’s the whole spirit of this forum. We all here subscribe to a rules-based international order and obviously...we want to stress the importance of enhancing maritime security and the adherence to UNCLOS. While we might have different opinions, let's say with China, that still does not preclude us from actually adhering to our beliefs and the collective beliefs of those countries similarly placed," the Senate president said.

"That type of wording particularly with respect for UNCLOS, freedom of navigation and possibly rules-based order will be discussed. If that would be adopted, we still have to find out after three days but definitely it would be the sense," Zubiri said.

China is among the 18 countries that sent parliamentarians to the Philippines for the APPF.

The Senate chief expressed delight that China "came with a big delegation."

"We are happy their delegation came to the Philippines. They could choose not to come but they came and therefore we should accept them with open arms," he said.

While the APPF member-states have yet to agree to the contents of the final resolution on maritime security, Romualdez said the Philippine delegation "will definitely be very, very much in a position of affirming and highlighting" the 1982 Declaration of Peaceful Settlement of Disputes and the Manila Declaration affirming all peaceful means regarding settling disputes.

"We'll resort to judicial procedures including arbitration, especially when it comes to disputes concerning UNCLOS. That’s a very major facet of all issues at hand," he said.

Indonesia has sponsored a resolution on Maritime Security Issue. The Philippines, meanwhile, sponsored a resolution strengthening the capacity of partiments to promote regional peace and stability.

Zubiri explained that the adoption of an APPF resolution has "persuasive powers" which the member-states can discuss in their own countries.   

Apart from peace and stability, APPF will also discuss resolutions to combat transnational crimes, rethinking critical infrastructure, human capital development and inclusive growth, regional cooperation through education and culture, universal health care, gender and sustainable development goals, and women's participation and leadership.

The APPF officially started on Thursday and will end on Saturday, November 24.

Attending the international forum are parliamentarians from 18 countries, namely Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mexico, Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Russian Federation, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Close to 300 participants from the said countries are expected to participate in the forum, including heads of parliaments of Thailand and Malaysia.

The Philippines is one of the APPF founding members and it will be hosting the APFF delegates for the second time. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News