THE Philippines called on all countries with claims to disputed waters in the South China Sea to respect the rule of law in order to preserve peace and security in the region even as the US Pacific Command warned that China means to exercise “de facto” control of the disputed waters.
“Sustainable peace and security are made possible by a rules-based regime, generally accepted by countries, that equalizes powerful actors and their less influential ones. Sustainable peace and security are direct products of the reason and ascendancy of the rule of law,” Philippine Ambassador to the United Nations Cecilia Rebong said during a meeting of other UN organizations in Geneva.
Photo credits: gov.ph
Rebong made the appeal in New York as a US Navy admiral expressed concern that China will exercise “de facto” control of the South China Sea following its recent activities in the disputed sea.
“Short of war with the United States, China will exercise de facto control of the South China Sea,” Adm. Harry Harris, commander of the US Pacific Command said, adding that developments prove that China is determined to achieve military control in the region.
“If China continues to arm all of the bases they have reclaimed in the South China Sea, they will change the operational landscape in the region,” Harris said.
The Philippines earlier filed an arbitration case against China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague, Netherlands due to its massive reclamation activities in the South China Sea.
China recently deployed surface-to-air missiles in the Woody Island of the Paracel group in the disputed sea, raising protest from neighboring Asian countries.
The Philippines and other UN members underscored the importance of the rule of law in the conduct of diplomacy and international relations, particularly in the field of disarmament and collective security during a panel discussion in Geneva entitled “Disarmament and Collective Security, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
“As an example on the importance of the rule of law in disarmament and collective security, Rebong presented the Philippines’ arbitration case before the Tribunal of the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea,” the DFA said.
Michael Moller, Director General of the United Nations Office in Geneva, echoed Rebong’s sentiment, and said that disarmament is not only a security issue, it is interlinked with rule of law, human rights, trust among others.
“A wholistic approach which prioritizes prevention rather than focusing on the cure,” Moller said.
“The UN discussion centered on the practical and achievable steps which disarmament mechanisms could provide to build confidence, political trust, defuse tensions and bolster cooperation in an increasingly charged international environment,” the DFA said.