Phl pushes rule of law in sea row

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – The Philippines will continue to work with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to come up with a peaceful and rules-based approach in resolving the territorial dispute with China as President Aquino participates in various meetings at the 23rd ASEAN summit today.

Aquino arrived here yesterday afternoon from Bali, Indonesia where he attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

Malacañang earlier confirmed the President’s attendance in nine meetings at the ASEAN summit but has arranged no bilateral talks with China.

Aquino was set to meet with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott yesterday ahead of the summit but there was none scheduled with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.

“There were no arrangements for a (bilateral) meeting with China,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said.

“We see that we have differences with China regarding some issues. But, having said that, we would like to pursue and enhance our bilateral relations with China,” Hernandez said.

Other bilateral meetings were being worked out but there was no final word from Philippine officials yet.

Aquino will participate in nine summits  – ASEAN, ASEAN-Japan, ASEAN-South Korea, ASEAN-China, ASEAN-United States, ASEAN Plus Three (Japan, South Korea and China), East Asia, ASEAN-India and ASEAN-United Nations.

The ASEAN leaders will be working for more than 12 hours today before the gala dinner to be hosted by Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah at the International Convention Center.

Philippine Permanent Representative to ASEAN Elizabeth Buensuceso said Manila would push for several items on the agenda, including the West Philippine Sea dispute.

“We have specific advocacy to pursue on West Philippine Sea. The very first is the rule of law, peaceful settlements of disputes. There are a lot of those criticizing the ASEAN – what has it done? For me it has done a lot because at first China did not want to talk to us, they want one-on-one. But now it’s okay for one group to talk with another party,” Buensuceso said.

“This is a big achievement for ASEAN, to speak with one voice. Can we talk about this issue peacefully? So it may be very slow but there is merit in discussing these things in a diplomatic way,” she added.

Buensuceso said the ASEAN would continue to tackle its goal to become One Community by 2015, among other issues.

She said the Philippines had always been a “most valuable player” in ASEAN, having introduced various initiatives.

Buensuceso said the Philippines is in better footing now with its economic growth under the Aquino administration.

Earlier, Hernandez said one of the priorities of Brunei as chairman of the ASEAN “is the management of maritime issues.”

“As you all know, maritime security and the rule of law are very important issues, not only for ASEAN and the Philippines, but also for the international community,” he said.

Hernandez said the Philippines would maintain its position that the issues involving the West Philippine Sea should be resolved through a rules-based approach under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

A code of conduct to be agreed upon by ASEAN members, even among non-claimant countries, is being pushed by the Philippines to ensure peace and stability in the region. But this is being opposed by China.

Noy invites Indonesian, Peru presidents

On the sidelines of the APEC summit, Aquino invited Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to visit the Philippines.

He thanked Yudhoyono for his commitment to help in the review process of the Philippine government’s 1996 peace accord with the Moro National Liberation Front.

Yudhoyono expressed his desire to visit Manila next year.

Aquino also invited Peru President Ollanta Humala, with whom he shared the stage as panelists during the APEC CEO Summit’s forum on inclusive growth Sunday. – With Delon Porcalla