Miriam defends Phl diplomatic protest vs China on Spratlys

MANILA, Philippines -  Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago defended yesterday the move of the government to file a diplomatic protest against the People’s Republic of China (PROC) after two Chinese ships harassed a government research vessel conducting an oil exploration mission near the disputed Spratly Islands last March 2.

Santiago, a constitutional and international law expert, said the Philippines merely pursued its territorial claim over the disputed islands when it responded to a call from the research vessel for assistance after two Chinese ships hovered around them while conducting their seismic survey in the area.

Santiago said under international law, a claimant country should be aggressive in seeking its claim to a disputed territory.

“The claim should be continuous and uninterrupted. You should always enforce your claim,” said Santiago who also explained that the Chinese actions might have also been an effort to re-assert its claim over the disputed islands.

Santiago told radio dzBB that the ownership claims would still take a long time to be resolved.

She even doubted if the country claimants, especially China, would allow the issue to be heard before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

“I am sure China will not allow this. (The issue) will never reach the ICJ. In other words, it will never have a judicial settlement,” Santiago said.

Asked if the recent incident would affect the government’s appeal to stay the execution of three Filipinos who were sentenced to die last month for drug trafficking, Santiago did not rule out the possibility that China might use the Spratlys issue to further its cause.