Phl’s Triple Action Plan gets broad support – DFA

MANILA, Philippines - Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said yesterday the country’s proposed Triple Action Plan to reduce and manage tension in the South China Sea received broad support from the international community, indicating concerns on developments threatening security, peace and stability in the region.

Del Rosario said ASEAN foreign ministers tasked senior officials to study the proposal further, move the issue forward, and raise the level of discussion on measures to improve stability in the South China Sea.

“There was strong support in the international community. It was obvious people were concerned on the developments in the South China Sea,” Del Rosario told reporters in a chance interview.

The Philippines, he said, did its best in trying to promote a constructive framework that is served with the intention and principles contained in the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).

Only China immediately opposed and rejected this and denied there was tension in the South China Sea.

“But all of us know there is, right? In order for you to solve a problem you have to recognize it, and China doesn’t appear to recognize that there’s a problem,” he said.

“If something comes here and you oppose it, it means you’re prejudiced. We don’t want them to take a prejudice view of this. We want them to take an objective and constructive view,” he said.

Del Rosario said it was unique in ASEAN not to counter the DOC-centered proposal that showed the 10-nation bloc agreed on the need to ease tension in the disputed sea.