Foreign Secretary Albert F. del Rosario on Thursday said he welcomes statements made by American legislators calling for a comprehensive strategy to stop China from pursuing an ongoing reclamation on disputed islands in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
“We also welcome the call for a more substantive support and focus on the Asia rebalance strategy of the United States,” del Rosario said, as he keynoted the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines Forum at the Marco Polo Hotel in Pasig City.
Four US senators, led by Sen. John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees, wrote to the US secretaries of defense and state, highlighting China’s alleged “aggressive” behavior in pushing its sovereignty claims in the West Philippine Sea.
The senators, which include Bob Corker, Bob Menendez and Jack Reed, also bemoaned the lack of a comprehensive US strategy for the maritime commons of the Indo-Pacific region.
Del Rosario said this move by the American lawmakers “is very helpful for our case,” as well as for other countries claiming the contested waters.
“It brings into focus with the international community the differences in terms of what is being said and what is happening on the ground,” the Philippines’s top diplomat said. Del Rosario’s speech came at a time of increasing aggressiveness by China, marked by reclamation activities covering seven reefs in the West Philippine Sea.
The two artificial islets are feared to choke off access to Ayungin Shoal, where a rusting Philippine Navy ship is beached and is home to a contingent of troopers.
Former Air Force Officer Rep. Francisco Acedillo, now party-list representative of Magdalo, said latest maritime surveillance photos revealed how China’s land reclamation is expanding to cover all seven reefs it now occupies.
The latest reclamation work is being done on Mischief and Subi reefs, known to the Philippines as Panganiban and Zamora, which are fast catching up with the five other reefs, where China had done reclamation work early last year.
Acedillo branded this move as “graver danger to the country’s national security.”
But del Rosario said that the Philippines remains undaunted and continues to advocate a peaceful and rules-based settlement of disputes in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law. He said that the Philippines has also protested the massive reclamation activities undertaken by China in all seven features it occupies in the Spratly Islands.
“The alterations of these features are plainly intended to change the character, status and maritime entitlements of the said features which prejudice the arbitration and undermine the work of the Arbitral Tribunal to hear and objectively decide the case,” he said. He said the massive reclamation activities in the South China Sea have a tremendous environmental impact which damage the marine environment and threaten marine biodiversity.
He added that China had also breached the 2002 Asean Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC-SCS), in which signatory states undertook to exercise self-restraint of activities that could complicate or escalate disputes, or affect peace and stability.
The Philippines has a pending case against China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague, contesting the validity of their so-called nine-dash line claim.
China has refused to participate in the proceedings, but released a position paper claiming that the court has no jurisdiction over the issue.
Del Rosario, however, said that the tribunal has managed, with utmost professionalism, the challenges posed by China’s decision not to appear, taking care to make sure neither side is prejudiced by that decision.
He said this was reflected by the scope and detail of its questions submitted to the Philippines requesting for additional argument and information on December 16, 2014.
Del Rosario said the Philippines had submitted detailed responses and extensive additional information comprising 12 volumes.
From the original 4,000 pages of arguments and maps, the Department of Foreign Affairs said over 3,000 pages were submitted lately “so that all in all, the Philippine submission exceeds 7,000 pages.”
“Preparing such an extensive submission in such short order required substantial effort and coordination with concerned government agencies,” he said.