There is a fundamental problem within the “award” of the South China Sea arbitration, and that the arbitral tribunal has made a “huge mistake”, Professor of the University of Virginia Myron Nordquist said here on Friday.
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“By doing so, we are both exercising our rights in accordance with global law, and safeguarding the dignity of worldwide law”, he said.
China has defiantly suggested it will continue militarising disputed parts of the South China Sea, despite a United Nations ruling this week rejected the country’s claims to rights over the area.
The Hague Tribunal also found no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources within the nine-dash line.
Assistant Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou said on Monday that the ASEM summit was “not an appropriate venue” to discuss the South China Sea.
China maintains most of the South China Sea, through which more than $5 trillion of commerce goes per annum.
On Friday, the European Union issued a statement noting China’s legal defeat but avoided direct reference to Beijing, reflecting discord among EU governments over how strongly to respond to the court ruling.
Kawamura described the exchange as “frank and candid” and Chinese state media accounts described the Chinese leader telling Abe that Japan should “stop hyping up and interfering” in the dispute. “We don’t taunt or flaunt it”, he said.
Former president Fidel Ramos has been asked by President Duterte to begin talks with Chinese officials.
Speaking at the 11th Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) in Mongolia, Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay stressed that while the arbitral tribunal’s decision favored the Philippines, Manila was also now prepared to move forward with Beijing to ease tensions.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang warned yesterday saying that “if anyone wants to take any provocative action against China’s security interest based on the award, China will take a decisive response”.
“My message is the same as the foreign minister’s”, Payne said.
Regarding the possibility of joint exploration with China in the South China Sea, Philippine Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio explained that the Duterte administration can not enter into an agreement for joint development of the areas or resources within the country’s exclusive economic zone because the Philippine Constitution prohibits this.
Japan’s Kyodo news agency said Abe told Li that a rules-based worldwide order must be respected.
Calida later told reporters that “the baseline for any negotiation should be the decision”, adding “we will not concede any awards given to us”.
“If you understand how the other side lives, you’re more tolerant”, he said.
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Duterte said the interest of the Philippines and its allies would be considered as they strive to settle the territorial row through diplomacy.
