Philippines tells UN: China's actions 'dangerous, reckless'

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines on Monday criticized China before the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for embarking on expansionist territorial claims that violate other nations' rights.

During the UNGA's 69th annual high-level meeting in New York, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario said the Philippines invited a State Party to settle their maritime disputes peacefully through the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), including its provisions on dispute settlement, particularly arbitration.

"However, it has refused to join us and has continued to unilaterally embark on an expansionist claim that violates the legitimate rights of the Philippines and other littoral neighbours under UNCLOS such as their Exclusive Economic Zones and Continental Shelves," Del Rosario told the UN General Assembly without mentioning China by name.

"Instead of peacefully resolving the maritime disputes within the framework of UNCLOS, said State embarked on a series of dangerous, reckless and forceful activities in an attempt to impose unilateral change in the maritime status quo of the South China Sea," he added.

Del Rosario then enumerated Beijing's unilateral activities that escalated the tensions and threatened the peace and stability of the South China Sea.

These activities include the forcible occupation of the Scarborough Shoal in 2012 and the moratorium on fishing in areas of the South China Sea earlier this year.

The Filipino official also reported to the UNGA the land reclamation activities of China in Johnson Reef, McKennan and Hughes Reef, Cuarteron Reef and Gaven Reef in the Spratlys.

"These unilateral activities, among others, form part of a pattern of forcing a change in the maritime status quo in order to advanca a so-called nine dash line position, an expansive claim of indisputable sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea," he said.

Del Rosario said the Philippines supports the call for UN States Parties to clearly define and publicize the limits of their respective maritime zones so that countries will have greater certainty on their maritime spaces.

He reiterated that the Philippines' Triple Action Plan (TAP) proposal contains immediate, intermediate and final approaches to address the provocative and destabilizing activities in the contested waters.

"It is a positive, comprehensive and constructive framework, which brings together various initiatives that the Philippines and other countries have been advocating on the issue of the South China Sea for the past years," he said.

As an immediate approach, the TAP seeks to freeze specific activities that escalate tensions in the region. For the intermediate approach, the Philippines' proposal highlights the need for the full and effective implementation of a Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and the expeditious conclusion of the Code of Conduct.

As a final approach, the TAP stresses the need for a settlement mechanism to resolve the territorial disputes based on international law.

"The Philippines is more determined than ever in its pursuit of all possible means under international law to keep the conflict from escalating and undermining regional peace, security, and stability," Del Rosario said.