BEIJING, China: President Benigno S. Aquino III shares a light moment with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Commonwealth of Australia Prime Minister Tony Abbott during the 22nd Apec Leaders’ Meeting Tree Planting Ceremony at the Summer Garden of the International Conference Center at Yanqui Lake here on Tuesday (November 11). (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Philippines has a “plan B” in case a United Nations arbitral tribunal will decide it does not have jurisdiction over the Philippines’ case to protect its sovereignty over islands in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea).
“We have a plan B, but we can’t disclose options at this time considering how sensitive this issue is,” Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson Charles Jose said in an interview.
Jose, however, said the country is confident the court will continue to hear the case’s merits.
He said going to the arbitral tribunal is the best option to resolve the issue with China, which had questioned earlier the court’s jurisdiction over the Philippine petition.
China has insisted the best way to solve the conflict is through bilateral talks.
In this photo taken Feb. 25, 2014 by surveillance planes and released Thursday, May 15, 2014, by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, a Chinese vessel, top center, is used to expand structures and land on the Johnson Reef, called Mabini by the Philippines and Chigua by China, at the Spratly Islands at South China Sea, Philippines. The Philippines has protested China’s reclamation of land in the disputed reef in the South China Sea that can be used to build an airstrip or an offshore military base in the increasingly volatile region, the country’s top diplomat and other officials said Wednesday, May 14, 2014. The white arrow was added by the source. (MNS photo)
“We’re hoping that the court will see this. We’ve been talking to China since 1995 when they illegally occupied Mischief Reef and even during the Scarborough standoff in 2012,” he said.
He admitted the country’s case is unique since it will be the first to be lodged before the tribunal with only one party in attendance.
China refused to be included in the arbitration.
“For us, since we are guided by the principles of peaceful settlements of dispute, the arbitration case it the best option,” he said.
Representatives from the executive, legislative, and judiciary will come together to support the country’s case before the tribunal, which will begin hearing the Philippines’ arguments from July 7 to July 13.
The delegation will head to The Hague, Netherlands to observe the oral arguments, which will delve initially into the arbitral tribunal’s jurisdiction in handling the case.
The executive branch will be represented by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Undersecretary for Security Cluster Emmanuel Bautista, and Deputy Spokesperson Abigail Valte.
The legislative, on the other hand, will be represented by Senate President Franklin Drilon and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr.
The judiciary, meanwhile, will be led by Supreme Court Justices Antonio Carpio and Francis Jardeleza.
Solicitor General Florin Hilbay will present the country’s case, together with lawyer Paul Reichler from the US firm Foley Hoag. (MNS)