ROILO GOLEZ, Philippine National Security Adviser (2001-2004). The world and the Philippines as Roilo Golez sees it. With focus on national security, geopolitics, geo-security, economics, science and government.
Thursday, April 27, 2017
Golez: The President as host will have to summon all the diplomatic agility he has, guided by his foreign affairs advisers, to deal with two of the most powerful members of the ASEAN, Indonesia and Vietnam, who both urge that the Hague Ruling on the South China Sea dispute be discussed in the ASEAN meeting.
Golez: The President as host will have to summon all the diplomatic agility he has, guided by his foreign affairs advisers, to deal with two of the most powerful members of the ASEAN, Indonesia and Vietnam, who both urge that the Hague Ruling on the South China Sea dispute be discussed in the ASEAN meeting. Both countries expect to benefit from the Hague ruling. Being the host, the Philippines will find it very difficult to side step the initiative of Indonesia and Vietnam.
Vietnam has for years been battered by the territorial aggressiveness of China, while Indonesia is threatened by China's nine dash line which is too close for comfort to Indonesia's strategic Natuna Island.
I am puzzled why the President refers to the Hague ruling as "merely its entitlements" when "entitlements" are the very crux of the exclusive economic zone where one entitlement for the Philippines is to exercise sovereign rights over the natural resources therein, living or non-living. The issue is all about the EEZ and not territorial sea.
President Duterte has been quoted as follows:
"President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday called the South China Sea row between Manila and Beijing a "non-issue", as the Philippines hosts this week leaders from the region whose countries are also locked in a bitter maritime dispute with China.
"Speaking to reporters, Duterte again stressed that now is not the right time to raise Manila’s arbitration victory against China, saying the ruling did not necessarily declare parts of the disputed sea as its territory but merely its entitlements."
MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday called the South China Sea row between Manila and Beijing a "non-issue", as the Philippines hosts this week leaders from the region whose countries are also locked in a bitter maritime dispute with China.
Speaking to reporters, Duterte again stressed that now is not the right time to raise Manila’s arbitration victory against China, saying the ruling did not necessarily declare parts of the disputed sea as its territory but merely its entitlements.
Duterte issued this statement as he is set to host 9 other leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The other ASEAN countries which have competing claims with China are Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia.
The President has been criticized for his soft stance towards China, as he chose to downplay Manila’s maritime row with Beijing in exchange for stronger economic ties.
The Philippines, as chairman of the ASEAN this year, has been urged to bring up Manila’s arbitration victory during the ASEAN meetings.
The draft chairman's message would instead underscore the importance of "peace, stability, security, and freedom of navigation," and would urge all sea claimants to settle territorial disputes in a peaceful manner.
The Philippines, according to the draft document, shared the "serious concern expressed by some leaders over recent developments and escalation of activities in the area."
"We were pleased with the progress to complete a framework of the Code of Conduct (COC), in order to facilitate the early adoption of the COC within the ASEAN-China process," it said.
No comments:
Post a Comment