Aquino hails initial victory vs China, says rule of law prevails

MANILA, Philippines — President Benigno Aquino III on Friday hailed the country's initial victory against China after the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) decided that it has jurisdiction over the West Philippine Sea dispute.

In an interview with reporters in Arteche, Eastern Samar, Aquino said he was elated at the PCA's quick award on the matter of jurisdiction.

READ: Tribunal sides with Philippines in initial round vs China

For Aquino, the initial ruling is proof that the rule of law is the equalizer between small and big countries such as the Philippines and China.

"'Yung mabilis 'yung kilos, medyo masalimuot 'yung talakayan dito, pero masasabi natin talagang sino ba naman ang hindi matutuwa na talagang parang umiiral 'yon ngang tinatawag na rule of law," Aquino said.

The president also noted the tribunal decision refuting China's claim that the Philippines abused the dispute settlement procedures of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) when the country started the "unilateral" arbitration.

"Inabuso ba natin 'yung proseso na unilateral tayo lang ang naghain, hindi kasama ang China? Sinagot nila (PCA) doon sa kanilang desisyon na hindi natin inabuso 'yung proseso," Aquino said.

Aquino said he expects China to respect the PCA's awarding on the jurisdiction issue of the West Philippine Sea case.

"Pareho tayong signatory doon sa Convention on the Law of the Sea, dapat naman tayong sumunod," he said.

In Malacañang, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the awarding on jurisdiction and admissibility allows the Philippines to present the merits of its case to the arbitral tribunal.

Coloma said the Philippines will await further advice from the tribunal.

Coloma also maintained that the Philippines will pursue a peaceful resolution of the sea dispute through the arbitration process.

"Our basic position is to promote the freedom of navigation recognizing that the South China Sea or the West Philippine Sea is one of the most important arteries for global commerce," Coloma said in a press briefing.

"We have always maintained that all disputes pertaining to maritime entitlements in body of water will have to be resolved peacefully in accordance with the rules such as those contained in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea," he added.

The Philippines filed the arbitration case in 2014 to clarify maritime entitlements in the South China Sea amid Beijing's increasing aggression in the disputed waters.

China, which is claiming over 90 percent of South China Sea, has insisted that it would not participate in the arbitration initiated by the Philippines.

In July, the tribunal commenced the legal battle between the two nations with the hearing on jurisdiction and admissibility in the arbitration case.

During the hearing, the Philippines asserted that China is not entitled to exercise what it refers to as "historic rights" over the contested waters and that its so-called nine-dash line has no basis whatsoever under international law.

The Philippines also argued that China's island-building activities, fishing practices and harvesting of endangered species have irreversibly damaged the regional marine environment.

Aquino expressed hope that the PCA will rule in favor of the Philippines and that the tribunal's decision will improve the country's relationship with China.

"Sana makakatulong na paglilinaw nung ating mga karapatan at obligasyon under doon sa United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea," Aquino said. "Kapag wala nang malabo, maliwanag yung ating mga dapat sundin, ay hindi ba magiging paraan 'yon para mas maging maayos 'yung ugnayan ng isa't isa dahil hindi na 'yung 'opinyon ko ganito, opinyon mo ganyan."

"Kapag maliwanag na ito ang tamang opinyon, dapat sana umayos ang ating relasyon sa isat isa at lahat ng iba pang mga bansa na mayroong disputes dito sa dagat na maraming pangalan," the president added. — Louis Bacani