Philippines won’t withdraw arbitration case vs China

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines will not withdraw its case against China before the international arbitral tribunal despite pronouncements from Beijing urging Manila to return to bilateral talks to settle their maritime dispute.

“There has been no change in the position of the government with regard to rules-based approach and peaceful resolution of maritime entitlement issues in the West Philippine Sea or South China Sea,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a press briefing yesterday.

Asked whether Beijing’s move was an indication that Manila’s case was strong, Coloma said the Philippines is determined to uphold the rationality of the Philippine position.

Coloma stressed the Philippines brought the case to the UN’s Permanent Court of Arbitration in the hope of getting a ruling substantiating maritime entitlements of countries under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Beijing has for years been insisting on bilateral talks to settle its maritime disputes with neighboring countries.

But this month, its claims came under international legal scrutiny for the first time when the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague began hearing the case filed by Manila in 2013. China has refused to take part in the proceedings.

“I certainly hope so, the Philippine side will sit together with us for a peaceful negotiation,” Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua told reporters when asked if the Philippines should withdraw its in The Hague.

“The negotiation might require patience, might take time but that’s the only way out ... peaceful solution through bilateral talks.”