John Kerry left for the Philippines late on Tuesday.
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On July 12, an worldwide court in The Hague ruled that Beijing’s claims to areas of the sea have no legal basis in an arbitration launched by the Philippines, whose “sovereign rights” it said China had violated.
“He (Duterte) has been outspoken about seeking cooperation with China instead of pursuing a more antagonistic line on the West Philippine Sea”, Manhit said.
The PCA, established more than a century ago, was the first permanent intergovernmental organisation to provide a forum for the resolution of worldwide disputes through arbitration and other peaceful means.
China, meanwhile, has accused the Philippines of having “deliberately mischaracterized” disputes in the sea, declaring the court’s award “null and void”, saying it had no binding force.
“Conversation will continue to proceed”, he said.
It did not mention the recent ruling by a five-man Arbitral Tribunal at The Hague which struck down China’s claims to over two-thirds of the South China Sea.
Duterte also met with Kerry later Wednesday, but presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said the pair didn’t strike any deals on how to handle the South China Sea issue. It operates under the auspices of the United Nations’ Convention on the Law of the Sea, and over 120 countries, including both China and the Philippines, have acceded to its conventions, and are therefore subject to its jurisdiction.
Former President Fidel Ramos has already accepted the offer of Duterte to be the government’s special envoy to China.
“It may or may not happen, but the objective is to resolve the disputes based on worldwide law and Unclos”, Yasay said.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement echoed this sentiment, adding that disputes in the South China Sea should be resolved “in accordance with the universally recognized principals of worldwide law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea”.
“We hope to see a real opportunity for claimants to work together constructively, peacefully, and ultimately resolve their difference consistent with global law”, he said.
At the same time, however, Yasay said the Philippines “had never urged or asked the global community, particularly ASEAN, to support us in the merits of our case”.
The Western powers should not create another crisis situation on the pretext of preserving the freedom of the high seas by encouraging the smaller countries to confront China.
Kerry also said that the U.S. wanted to stay neutral in the conflict, but added that Washington has an unwavering position when it comes to the protection of rights, freedoms and legal use of airspace and maritime waters as set out by worldwide law.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague this month ruled that China’s claim to most of the strategic waterway was inconsistent with global law.
Following the ruling, Beijing announced that it had sent new bombers on patrol around the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, which is close to the Philippines.
It will be advisable to allow the nations in the South China Sea to solve their issues at their own pace and in their own way.
“We hope to see a process that will narrow the geographic scope of the maritime disputes, set standards for behaviour in contested areas, lead to mutually acceptable solutions, perhaps even a series of confidence-building steps”, he said. This is Kerry’s first visit to the Philippines since Rodrigo Duterte took office earlier this year.
Wang said in a statement posted Wednesday on the Chinese foreign ministry’s website that the move by the three countries came at an inappropriate time and wasn’t constructive.
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“At the same time, and I want to be equally clear about this, we urge all the claimants to exercise restraint and to work to reduce tensions”, Kerry said.
