Noy tells China: Stay out of West Phl Sea

NAYPYITAW – President Aquino has asked China to remove its ships illegally deployed in the West Philippine Sea.

Speaking at the ASEAN-China summit yesterday at Myanmar International Convention Center, Aquino said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations  values practical cooperation and early harvest measures, including hotlines and search and rescue arrangements.

“These activities, however, can only be meaningful if there are concrete positive developments on the waters of the South China Sea,” he said.

Aquino spoke before the closing of the 25th ASEAN Summit in Naypyitaw yesterday.

Representing Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang attended the closing ceremonies.

Aquino said he appreciates the warm conversation that he had with Xi during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Beijing.

“We agreed to work on improving relations between our two countries,” he said. “I believe that relations can be improved without sacrificing our advocacies, including efforts to clarify maritime entitlements through arbitration.”

“This can be more effectively accomplished by pursuing the implementation of the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and the early conclusion of a legally-binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea,” he said.

Aquino said the wheel is not necessarily being reinvented.

“We can source the elements of the proposed COC from existing norms and international conventions that promote good conduct at sea,” he said.

Aquino said a substantial percentage of world trade traverses the West Philippine Sea

“These, among the many other initiatives we may undertake with China, will allow us to give rise to a region that is even more capable of pursuing greater progress and prosperity, one that adheres to the rule of law,” he said.

India agrees with Phl, Asean

India concurred with the position of the Philippines and the ASEAN on the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight in West Philippine Sea, a major avenue in India’s global trade. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India supports the peaceful resolution of disputes.  

Aquino and Modi had a fruitful exchange of views at the sidelines of the 25th ASEAN Summit in which the Indian Prime Minister was briefed on the Philippines’ position regarding the maritime entitlements in the  West Philippine Sea.

The meeting lasted for about half an hour after the 2nd ASEAN-US Summit and before the 17th ASEAN-China Summit.

Aquino  thanked India for its support in the aftermath of the Bohol earthquake and Super Typhoon Yolanda.

Aquino informed Modi that the Philippines is now finalizing its agreement to be a signatory to the ASEAN-India Investment Agreement.   – With Paolo Romero