BRUSSELS – The Philippines’ top diplomat has underscored that the arbitral proceedings initiated by Manila to challenge China’s excessive maritime claims do not undermine the consultations between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Beijing for the crafting of a Code of Conduct (COC) on the South China Sea.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said before a forum with the theme “Managing the South China Sea and Other Regional Security Issues” at the Brussels Press Club here on Tuesday that the arbitration process is not in conflict with the crafting of the COC because arbitration is one of the dispute settlement mechanisms under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Del Rosario said the Philippines has undertaken several efforts to peacefully engage China and settle disputes, but these were unsuccessful.
He noted that the rules-based resolution and management of disputes in the South China Sea contains two elements: the third-party arbitration of maritime claims, in accordance with the universally recognized principles of international law, specifically UNCLOS; and the early conclusion of a COC on the South China Sea between ASEAN and China…
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