The real issue in the South China Sea (SCS) is China’s continued refusal to abide by international law, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reaffirmed on Monday, rejecting Beijing’s latest claims in a recent global forum.
The Philippines underscored that it is an independent and sovereign state, making decisions solely in “the national interest and for the well-being of the Filipino people.”
“No creative analogy or play of words will mask the real issue, which is China’s refusal to abide by international law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award, and the adverse effects of China’s disregard for the rules-based international order on Filipino communities genuinely affected by China’s illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive behavior at sea,” the DFA said in a statement.
The Philippines was referring to the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea (UNCLOS), an international treaty that established the legal framework for all maritime activities of participating sovereign states, including China.
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of the Philippines, which denied the expansive claims of China in the SCS. Beijing, however, refused to respect and accept this decision.
“We call on countries to be circumspect and to avoid actions and words that only contribute to tensions in the region,” the DFA added.
The Philippines was reacting to the narrative of China in an international forum earlier that the Philippines’ actions in the SCS were akin to a “shadow play” dictated by external forces.
“For every move on the sea by the Philippines, there is a screenplay written by external forces, the show is live streamed by Western media, and the plot is invariably to smear China,” China claimed in its statement.