China reminds PH it signed a pact that aims to reduce tension in the region

China has again criticized the Philippines for issuing a statement that the arbitration process before the United Nations arbitration tribunal that it initiated to resolve the territorial dispute over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) would proceed despite China's rejection. 

At a press conference in Bejing on Friday, China Foreign Ministry Hong Lei reminded the Philippines that it is among the “signatories to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties” in the South China Sea.

The declaration is a non-binding agreement between China and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations that hopes to reduce political tensions in the region as well as prohibits claimant-parties from aggressively acting on their claims. 

“Both the Philippines and China are signatories to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in South China Sea (DOC) and have made commitments on comprehensive and earnest implementation of the DOC,” Hong told the reporters in Beijing.

“We disapprove of the Philippine Foreign Ministry's practice of bringing international arbitration and have made clear our opposition stance,” Hong added.

Hong said China would only agree to resolve the dispute through a “dialogue framework” which he claimed was “supported by most countries in the region”.

While maintaining their supposed “dialogue framework", Hong said China would continue "to make efforts to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea and unswervingly safeguard national sovereignty and interests." 

The Philippines has been pushing to resolve the dispute either through the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (Itlos) or an international body under the United Nation Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos).

But China rejected the action taken by the Philippines and insisted to solve the issue through bilateral means.

Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Albert del Rosario said the Philippines had been engaging China in political and diplomatic dialogues for a peaceful negotiated settlement of its maritime dispute for the past 18 years, but with “no success”.

“In every occasion, China always asserts indisputable sovereignty over the entire South China Sea. We view that arbitration process as the most friendly , peaceful and durable option to clarify the maritime entitlements of coastal in states in the South China Sea,” Del Rosario said during an event hosted by the Manila Overseas Press Club Thursday night.

The DFA chief said the arbitration would ensure peace and stability and freedom of navigation in the region.

Despite China’s rejection, the Philippines is now forming its five-member panel for the arbitration and is set to submit a request to the president of Itlos to choose the remaining representatives.

The Philippines has hired Ruldiger Wolfrum, former Itlos president, to represent the country in the arbitration.

To give China the time to reply, the Philippines will have to wait for another 15 days before it submits a request to the Itlos president.

The Philippine government on January 22 officially brought its territorial dispute with China before the United Nations. It presented a Statement and Notification of Claim to China, as well as a note verbale to Chinese Ambassador to Manila Ma Keqing.

The presentation of the notification siganks the start of the arbitration proceedings. 

Manila filed a case against Beijing under the compulsory proceedings provided by Annex VII of the Unclos.

Instead of filing the case before the Itlos, the Philippine government decided to invite China to form a court under the arbitral tribunal.

A tribunal will be composed of five members: the first two chosen by the parties concerned (the Philippines and China) and the three will be agreed upon by both countries.-Interaksyon (February 23, 2013 8:09PM)