Del Rosario: UN arbitration on sea row upholds rule of law

MANILA, Philippines - Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario on Thursday insisted before fellow foreign ministers in Brunei that the Philippines is upholding the rule of law by initiating artibral proceedings with the United Nations regarding its claim over the West Philippine Sea.

“The Philippines shall always adhere to the peaceful settlement of disputes through lawful, non-coercive, and transparent means that promote the healthy functioning of an equitable and rules-based international system,” Del Rosario said at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei.

He said that the Philippines' move to bring its claim over the West Philippine Sea under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is "firmly rooted in the tradition of good global citizenship."

He added that other nations that have similar territorial claims will benefit from the arbitration proceedings.

“For ASEAN and the rest of the global community, the clarification of maritime entitlements under UNCLOS would assure peace, security, stability and freedom of navigation in the region,” the Secretary said.

Del Rosario said that through the proceedings, the Philippines will be able to clearly explain its claim over the West Philippine Sea and its entitlements under UNCLOS.

He added that for China, an arbitral award will finally clarify for the Chinese people its lawful maritime entitlements in the South China Sea.

The foreign affairs chief also reiterated during the meeting the Philippines' desire to have a legally-binding Code of the Conduct in the South China Sea (COC)..

“We will continue to work with ASEAN and China in crafting the COC and in implementing our commitments under the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC),” the Secretary said.