APEC summit won’t focus on sea row – Palace

MANILA, Philippines – While the government sees the importance of global support for the country’s position in the West Philippine Sea, Malacañang said it would not be the focus of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be held in Manila this week. 

“Normally, what is discussed in the APEC, in the leaders’ retreat, are economic issues,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said over radio dzRB. “All the economic leaders know that APEC is really an economic forum.”

Valte said the maritime dispute in the West Philippine Sea issue might be raised during the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur. She did not elaborate.

Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose told a press briefing on Friday that Secretary Albert del Rosario told his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in a meeting last week that the sea dispute was not included in the APEC agenda. 

“We are greatly encouraged by the international public opinion on the approach that the Philippines is taking with regard to trying to resolve the dispute in the South China Sea. Many countries have expressed support for our approach of using peaceful means of trying to resolve the dispute and also our approach of upholding the primacy of the rule of law, and many countries have gone to the extent of expressing support for the arbitration case that we filed before the arbitral tribunal,” Jose said.

He said peace and stability in the region is necessary to be able to promote economic development.

“For the past maybe two decades, all the countries in the region have benefited from the peaceful environment and stable environment… What is happening now in the South China Sea is causing instability and undermining peace and stability which could have an impact on the development – economic development and the economic prosperity of the countries in the region,” Jose said.

He said the issue could impact on trade, investment and the environment conducive for economic development and prosperity.

China’s massive land reclamation in the South China Sea has sparked global concern as it might affect freedom of navigation as well as trade passing through the area.

Meanwhile, Valte said the government is all set for the start of the summit meetings.

From 800 participants from the business and other stakeholders, Valte said 1,300 were already expected to attend the APEC Leaders’ Summit.