No matter how big or powerful a country is, it can never justify staking claim over an entire sea or use force to assert such claim, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said in an address before the United Nations General Assembly in response to China’s insistence that the West Philippine Sea is theirs.
“The world cannot allow a country, no matter how powerful, to claim an entire sea as its own nor should it allow coercion to be an acceptable dispute settlement mechanism,” Del Rosario told the 70th UN General Assembly last Oct. 2.
He also asked China to join the deliberations on the case filed by Manila with The Hague-based UN arbitral tribunal contesting Beijing’s massive claim in the West Philippine Sea.
“With the growing support from the international community in peacefully resolving disputes in the South China Sea, including through arbitration, the Philippines believes that the final outcome of this arbitration process would pave the way for a settlement of the maritime disputes,” Del Rosario said.
He said Manila hopes to finally see Beijing’s actions match its declarations so there would be real easing of tensions in the West Philippine and South China Sea. Details