UN supports peaceful settlement in South China Sea row - DFA

United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-moon renewed the world body’s support for a peaceful and amicable resolution of the maritime dispute between the Philippines and China over the West Philippine Sea, the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a news release.

The support was expressed during a meeting on February 19 where the Secretary-General assured Philippine Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Libran Cabactulan that he was closely monitoring developments on the case.

UN Undersecretary-General for Legal Affairs Patricia O’Brien and other senior UN officials were the others present in the meeting held on the same day that China rejected participating in the UN arbitration proceedings.

'Arbitration not an unfriendly act'

Ambassador Cabactulan told the Secretary-General that the arbitration case which the Philippines is seeking with China is “a form of peaceful settlement of disputes, which should not be considered an unfriendly act.”

In the meeting, the ambassador stressed that this has been the position of the UN General Assembly ever since 1982 when it adopted the Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes.

“Our representation with the Secretary-General today conveyed this basic Philippines position,” he said. 

Ambassador Cabactulan explained to Secretary-General Ban that the arbitration case would benefit both the Philippines and China, as well as the region and the world.

“It will be an opportunity for China to assure the international community of its peaceful rise,” the ambassador stressed.

Ambassador Cabactulan said the heart of the issue lies in China’s interpretation and application of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), specifically its nine-dash line claim which interferes with the lawful exercise by the Philippines of its sovereign rights and jurisdiction in its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

Both countries are states parties to UNCLOS.         

Since April last year, tension has run high between China and Philippines after a fleet of Chinese boats were caught illegally fishing in the Scarborough Shoal, off Zambales province. The Philippine Navy ship that was sent to arrest the Chinese fishermen was stopped by Chinese government boats. - Interaksyon (February 21, 2013 12:12PM)