Palace welcomes US statement against new China map

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang on Saturday welcomed the United States’ (US) statement that China’s expanded territorial claim as represented by the so-called 10-dash line has no basis in international law.

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda stressed that expanding its territorial claim does not add legitimacy to China’s position.

“We certainly welcome the statement of the US Embassy in respect of the position taken by our Philippine government,” Lacierda told state-run radio station dzRB. 

“Adding another dash to the nine-dash line does not add any whit of legitimacy to its claim and for that particular reason, we have strongly emphasized that we have pursued the arbitration case before the international court,” he added.

On Thursday, US Ambassador Philip Goldberg backed the Philippines’ protest against China’s reclamation in disputed waters and stressed that Beijing’s expanded claim has no basis in international law.

“Obviously, artificial creations are not part of (international law), so I think you can take it from there, and UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) speaks about artificial creations not being the kind of features that would be covered,” Goldberg said in an event organized by the Philippine Constitution Association.

Goldberg said the way forward of settling the issue is “through tribunals, code of conduct, observance of declarations of conduct, negotiations directly with parties.”

“While we are not siding with one side or the other on various claims, no unilateral action, no intimidation, no force (should be used) to settle this issue,” the envoy said.

Lacierda noted that the Philippines has been strongly advocating for a Code of Conduct for claimants in the South China Sea dispute.

A Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea was signed by China and Southeast Asian countries in 2002. However, specific and binding guidelines have yet to be approved.

Lacierda said the Foreign Affairs department is determining whether to file a diplomatic protest over the release of a Chinese map that included disputed areas.

“We will certainly support the position taken by our Foreign Affairs department. It is also good to note that the international community’s support to our emphasis on the rule of law is very consistent,” the Palace official said.

Malacañang previously dismissed the new China map as a mere drawing that goes against international law.  

Last March, the Philippines filed a memorial or a written argument to the United Nations arbitral tribunal hearing its case against China’s excessive territorial claims

China, however, has refused to recognize the tribunal and maintained that it has “indisputable sovereignty" over areas in the West Philippine Sea.