TOKYO – President Aquino maintained yesterday that the West Philippine Sea dispute must be resolved multilaterally because of the many claimants involved in addition to those who want a stake in the area.
The President said Japan had supported a call of the Philippines for a peaceful resolution of the issue even before he came here for an official working visit.
In a joint statement signed by Aquino and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda after their bilateral meeting, both leaders confirmed that the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) “is vital as it connects the world and the Asia-Pacific region and that peace and stability therein is common interest to the international community.”
“As leaders of countries sharing sea lines of communication, we also confirmed that freedom of navigation, unimpeded commerce and compliance with established international law, including the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and the peaceful settlement of disputes serve the interests of the two countries and the whole region,” the statement said.
They shared the recognition that these same interests should also be advanced and protected in the South China Sea.
The two leaders affirmed the necessity of strengthening bilateral cooperation in the field of maritime affairs, given the problems on piracy in the area.
Other transnational crimes also occur in open seas, including terrorism, illegal drug trafficking, human trafficking and others.
Aquino said he was satisfied with the exchange of views on regional concerns of mutual interest.
The President said he is grateful for Japan’s commitment to train members of the Philippine Coast Guard and improve their capabilities by giving the Philippines some equipment.
Aquino, however, refused to discuss whether a ship would be donated to the PCG, although Japan already donated one in 1998.
Aquino said he updated Noda on what transpired during his state visit to China last week of August.
“I said as far as trade (with China) is concerned, there are about $1.2 billion of sure projects already. There’s a potential for another $3.8 (billion) that are undergoing the last few steps of details. Then the $7.9 (billion) is composed of those who really want to come to us,” he said.
“I also brought there the difficulty in reconciling the nine-dash theory with UNCLOS and perhaps we should help China resolve that particular claim of how you combine both because you cannot combine. But of course, since they had made a public statement, they can no longer turn their back on that. I think China has given us some signs that they are still committed to a peaceful resolution on the same,” Aquino said.
The President said he did not believe China would make provocative moves in the West Philippine Sea because assuming the worst case scenario, “they guard every nook and cranny of the disputed areas, how does that engender better trade for any other country, even the countries outside of the claimant countries?” he asked.
Aquino said one would fear to have any involvement with a country with such an attitude.
“You have gains on this aspect but your loss is the rest of world,” the President said.
“Now, their international trade is the key to keeping the people also happy. The 10 percent growth yearly for a decade is no joke so people have gotten used to that level. Then you’re going to disrupt the patterns, the trade patterns, the trade agreements, and the relations that you built up over this time. How would people look at you if you bully everybody else? And how many will have a population equal to or greater than China?” Aquino asked.
He said it would be important to have ASEAN centrality because “we cannot get into a bilateral agreement for a multilateral and regional problem.”
There are many claimants, Aquino said, adding that if only two of five claimants would agree, “how would it be binding on the other three? So the conflict will continue. The five of us really need to agree so we can get somewhere,” he said.
The President said the Philippines was looking at other means to settle the dispute because going to the United Nations’ International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea would need China’s agreement.
“In ITLOS, we have to get their agreement to make it binding,” he said.
“But that’s only one of six remedies open to us. So we have it on the table. We’re asking: why don’t you go to the ITLOS? We’re waiting for your feedback,” Aquino said. - Aurea Calica