The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that the USA announced support for bilateral talks between China and the Philippines over their territorial dispute.
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“The President did mention that whatever talks we will engage in will begin with the ruling, that will be the foundation, the ruling regarding the area”, the President’s spokesperson, Ernesto Abella, later told reporters.
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”.
“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.
John Kerry left for the Philippines late on Tuesday. Southeast Asia expert Ian Storey of the Iseas Yusof-Ishak Institute in Singapore is quoted saying he doubts the USA would pressure the Philippines into holding talks with China on those terms.
“It’s a complex situation”, Richardson said, while pointing out China’s growing influence in the region.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has backed efforts to resume stalled dialogue between China and Philippines over the South China Sea dispute.
Yasay said the issuance of a joint communique was a victory for ASEAN, which was divided but showed it was united on the need to stick to worldwide law and ensure peace.
Kerry stressed the importance of turning the page over the South China Sea disputes and initiating negotiations and talks among claimants.
“While the United States is not a claimant and the U.S. does not take a position on the competing claims in the South China Sea, we do take a strong position on protecting the rights, the freedoms, the lawful uses of air and sea space as defined by global law”.
Asked if EDCA will be used to implement the global court’s ruling on the Manila’s territorial case, Abella said there was no discussion on the matter.
Kerry said he was confident that the Philippines, a strong ally of United States, would take its own negotiating position and decide how best to proceed forward.
Kerry made the remarks after meeting with Philippine Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay in Manila where they discussed the Southeast Asian nation’s sweeping victory in the arbitration case against China.
“But we are not trying to create a confrontation”.
Kerry, however stressed that the United States takes a strong position in supporting the rule of law, as well as on protecting rights and freedoms of nations to freedom of navigation and use of air and sea space.
Yasay, heading into his meeting with Kerry, said “this effectively resolves the last remaining legal hurdle as we recognize potential contribution of EDCA to the preservation of peace and stability in the region”. The decision angered Beijing, which vowed to ignore the ruling.
“The rights of the countries should always be respected”, Kerry said.
This is while Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei have their own territorial claims over parts of the sea. It is also believed to sit atop vast reserves of oil and gas.
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“It remains to be seen, whether or not Duterte will use the ruling as the basis for future negotiations with China”, said Manhit.
