Beijing should abide by tribunal ruling for its own good: Manila

MANILA — The Philippines’ incoming Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr said China will benefit more from a peaceful resolution of the South China Sea row through abiding by an arbitral tribunal ruling than by taking any aggressive action on the dispute.

He said the Asian giant should be reminded by all countries concerned with freedom of navigation and overflight in the contested area.

“It’s very important that the international community … will get together to make the Chinese understand that it is for their benefit to resolve the conflict in this area peacefully, that there is more for the Chinese to lose if they will take aggressive action and use force than if they will pursue the resolution of this dispute though peaceful means,” he said in an interview with Manila Times.

China has maintained that it will not recognise the ruling of the United Nations-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which is expected to favour the Philippines.

The court is expected to hand down its decision early next month.

China, which claims 90 per cent of the South China Sea, has been accused of militarising the disputed waters by constructing airstrips and ports that can accommodate military aircraft and naval vessels.

Mr Yasay said he expects the international community to help the Philippines in the “historic battle”, since the South China Sea serves as a vital maritime route where US$5 trillion (S$6.78 trillion) in ship trade passes annually.

He said the Philippines hopes the international community “will be with us together in urging China to respect the decision and to respect the rule of law”, because the issue at hand is a matter of international concern, referring to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Mr Yasay said regional powers and stakeholders in the region have the prerogative to keep peace and stability in international waters where they have the right to fly and sail.

“America has the prerogative and has the right to get into the area, through its naval and military force, to make sure that its national interests (are protected),” he noted.

“Who can prevent them if they want to, because that’s international waters?”

The United States has warned China against taking “additional provocative actions” following the international court ruling.

A senior State Department official voiced scepticism last week at China’s claim that dozens of countries backed its position in the case the Philippines has brought against Beijing, and vowed that Washington would uphold US defence commitments.

Ms Colin Willett, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia, said Washington had “a lot of options” to respond to any such Chinese moves in a region that, she said, was vital to US interests. She also made it clear that with a ruling expected soon, the US was working to rally sometimes wavering allies and partners in the region to ensure a unified front.

“We, the United States, do have very clear national interests in the area,” Ms Willett told Reuters. “We have an interest in upholding our defence commitments and our security partnerships.”

China says more than 40 countries have offered support, the most recent being Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.

But only eight have come out in public support, including land-locked nations such as Niger and Afghanistan, said Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies. MANILA TIMES