FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo yesterday said China’s “nine-dash line” claim in the South China Sea has no basis in law and its actions within the Philippine exclusive economic zone violate Manila’s sovereign rights, while the United States reaffirmed its support to the Philippines and said it will back Manila in case of an armed attack.
Manalo and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued the statements on the sixth anniversary of the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) that junked China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea (WPS), for lack of historical or legal basis.
Manalo said the ruling is “final.”
“These findings are no longer within the reach of denial and rebuttal, and are conclusive as they are indisputable. The award is final. We firmly reject attempts to undermine it; nay, even erase it from law, history and our collective memories,” he said in a statement.
China continues refuse to recognize the ruling and has been insisting on bilateral talks to address the dispute. Beijing also wants to exclude non-regional powers like the United States from the talks, accusing the US of sowing discord and interference in the South China Sea.
Aside from China which claims the whole of the South China Sea, and the Philippines, other claimants to parts of the area are Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
Manila has filed more than 200 diplomatic protests since 2016 against Beijing’s aggressive activities in the WPS.
Manalo said the PCA ruling “authoritatively ruled that the claim of historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within the ‘nine-dash line’ had no basis in law and is without legal effect.”
“It upheld the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction in its exclusive economic zone,” he added.
Blinken said, “The United States reaffirms its July 13, 2020, policy regarding maritime claims in the South China Sea. We also reaffirm that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke US mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty,” he said in a statement dated July 11.
Manalo said the ruling also affirmed that certain actions of China within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) violated Manila’s sovereign rights and were thus unlawful, and that large-scale reclamation and construction of artificial islands caused severe environmental harm in violation of international conventions.
He stressed that the large-scale harvesting of endangered marine species also damaged the marine ecosystem.
China has constructed seven artificial islands in the South China Sea, three of which are located inside the Philippines’ EEZ to buttress its claim in the disputed waters. One of those is located in Zamora (Subi) Reef which features a three-kilometer runway, hangars, radars, missile shelters and weapons systems. Zamora Reef is located just 25 kilometers west of Pag-asa (Thitu) Island, the biggest island occupied by the Philippines in the Spratlys.
Manalo said these actions taken since the commencement of the arbitration had aggravated the disputes.
It was the Aquino administration in 2013 which initiated the filing of the arbitration case against China before the Netherlands-based Permanent Court of Arbitration.
Blinken, in the statement, said the ruling firmly rejected Beijing’s expansive maritime claims as having no basis in international law.
“The Tribunal also stated that the PRC (People’s Republic of China) has no lawful claim to the areas determined by the Arbitral Tribunal to be part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf,” he said.
Blinken asked Beijing to abide by its obligations under international law and cease its aggressive and provocative behavior.
“We will continue to work with allies and partners, as well as regional institutions like ASEAN, to protect and preserve the rules-based order,” he added.
Manalo also reiterated Manila’s position for a peaceful resolution to the dispute.
“And so we say once again: the present that we need and the future that we want is a peaceful South China Sea. The Philippines is committed to this for as long as it exists,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sen. Risa Hontiveros asked the Marcos administration to use its “newfound influence with China to protect our interests.”
“This is a chance for the leadership to take a sharper position compared to its predecessor,” she said.
Hontiveros said the Marcos administration’s “special friendship” with China should put the country’s interests above anything else especially when it enters into a discussion of “shared prosperity.”
She also urged President Marcos to find ways to stop China’s incursion on Philippine territory in the WPS.
“China’s unlawful and aggressive incursions must also stop, especially their addition of artificial islands in disputed waters. Mr. President, it is your duty to prohibit these operations,” she said. — With Raymond Africa
