President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent pronouncement that he would “set aside” the arbitral tribunal ruling on the South China Sea “imperils the national interest,” Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said Tuesday.
“To set side the Tribunal’s ruling does not redound to our interest as a nation. With due respect, such a pronouncement imperils the national interest in favor of China,” Pangilinan said.
Pangilinan pointed out that the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration recognized the Philippines’ territorial rights over some 531,000-square kilometers within the exclusive economic zone and the extended continental shelf under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“This area of 531,000 square kilometers of maritime space includes fisheries, oil, gas and mineral resources found within the area exclusive to us Filipinos,” he said.
Pivot towards China
Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, for his part, said Duterte’s statement was part of his plan to pivot towards China.
“Pivoting towards China and cutting ties with the US and Western democracies were his plan all along. He was just looking for a pretext to use so that it would appear that he was only provoked to do it,” Trillanes said.
Senator Gringo Honasan said Duterte’s remarks should “serve our national interest” being the chief architect of the Philippines’ foreign policies.
“As log as it does not violate our Constitution, and serves our national interest, the President exercises certain prerogatives, judgment calls, and makes decisions based on timely, complete and accurate information from the entire government, the private and public sector, and all available sources, domestic and foreign,” Honasan said.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, meanwhile, called on the President to clarify what he meant by setting aside the ruling, saying the tribunal’s decision boosts the legitimacy of the Philippines’ territorial claims.
“The ruling will protect our country, our people, and our future generations,” Gatchalian said.
Tribunal ruling
In July, the Philippines won the case it filed against China over its territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea. Manila refers to parts of the South China Sea as the West Philippine Sea.
Over the weekend, Duterte, however, said he would “set aside” the tribunal ruling.
But on Monday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay clarified that the Philippines was not setting aside the tribunal ruling.
Yasay, however, stressed that it was not yet time to bring the matter up with Beijing while both sides are in the process of mending their ties.
Hours later, Duterte said he was open to having a joint sea exploration with China in disputed maritime territories in the South China Sea.
The President, meanwhile, reiterated that he would eventually bring up with Beijing the ruling of the tribunal.
“To set side the Tribunal’s ruling does not redound to our interest as a nation. With due respect, such a pronouncement imperils the national interest in favor of China,” Pangilinan said.
Pangilinan pointed out that the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration recognized the Philippines’ territorial rights over some 531,000-square kilometers within the exclusive economic zone and the extended continental shelf under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“This area of 531,000 square kilometers of maritime space includes fisheries, oil, gas and mineral resources found within the area exclusive to us Filipinos,” he said.
Pivot towards China
Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, for his part, said Duterte’s statement was part of his plan to pivot towards China.
“Pivoting towards China and cutting ties with the US and Western democracies were his plan all along. He was just looking for a pretext to use so that it would appear that he was only provoked to do it,” Trillanes said.
Senator Gringo Honasan said Duterte’s remarks should “serve our national interest” being the chief architect of the Philippines’ foreign policies.
“As log as it does not violate our Constitution, and serves our national interest, the President exercises certain prerogatives, judgment calls, and makes decisions based on timely, complete and accurate information from the entire government, the private and public sector, and all available sources, domestic and foreign,” Honasan said.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, meanwhile, called on the President to clarify what he meant by setting aside the ruling, saying the tribunal’s decision boosts the legitimacy of the Philippines’ territorial claims.
“The ruling will protect our country, our people, and our future generations,” Gatchalian said.
Tribunal ruling
In July, the Philippines won the case it filed against China over its territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea. Manila refers to parts of the South China Sea as the West Philippine Sea.
Over the weekend, Duterte, however, said he would “set aside” the tribunal ruling.
But on Monday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay clarified that the Philippines was not setting aside the tribunal ruling.
Yasay, however, stressed that it was not yet time to bring the matter up with Beijing while both sides are in the process of mending their ties.
Hours later, Duterte said he was open to having a joint sea exploration with China in disputed maritime territories in the South China Sea.
The President, meanwhile, reiterated that he would eventually bring up with Beijing the ruling of the tribunal.
Source: gmanetwork
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