By LauroL.Baja, Jr., VERA Files
Be that as it may, we should accept and support the wisdom and circumstances which led the Philippines to file the case with the Arbitral Tribunal. Views on why only now, why the Arbitral Tribunal, and why file it all, should now focus on how best to contend with China’s possible defense that the dispute is subject to its reservations.
That we filed the case is not yet an achievement and we should be fully prepared and persevere just in case proceedings start.
The first obvious step is to desist from too much off-tangent remarks that may pre-empt the positions of prospective arbitrators and also our counsels. We also run the risk of telegraphing our positions. President Aquino cautioned against “giving the other side a preview of everything that we will do.”
General expressions of support from nations should be welcomed with quiet dignity and gratitude. Besides the case may fall already under the subjudice rule.
Our statement of Notification and Claim has remarkable parallel with the Statement of Claim of Barbados against Trinidad and Tabago concerning the delimitation of the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf between the two states.
There may be lessons to be learned comparing the two Statements.
The Barbados Statement is more detailed than the Philippine Statement. Unless it is a matter of tactics or strategy, we must specify in our Memorials, which I assume will be submitted later, what we want the Arbitral Tribunal to award us, and why. This will avoid a possible decision not to take cognizance of the case for failure to state legal,convincing cause of action.
In subsequent submissions, we must define what we mean by “unlawful activities”; specify the “acts of interferences” by China, what and where are the “rocks” located; why is China’s nine-dash-line contrary to UNCLOS; and what provisions or articles of the Convention have been violated.
If reports in the printed media are correct, the Philippines is requesting the Arbitral Tribunal to issue among others, an Award that “Declares that China’s rights in regard to maritime areas in the South China Sea, like the rights of the Philippines, are those that are established by UNCLOS, and consist of its rights to a Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone under Part II of UNCLOS, to an EEZ under Part V, and to a Continental Shelf under Part VI.”
Do we really admit that China has such rights in the South China Sea?
It is important that we submit a petition for “Provisional Remedies” to protect our sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea. The fact that we have gone to the Arbitral Tribunal will not stop Chinese activities in the area. It is right and necessary since the case will take years before a decision is made, it at all.
Some believe our resort to arbitration is a sign that our diplomacy failed. Perhaps but this should not prevent the Philippines from trying again. Both countries desire a peaceful and just solutions to the South China Sea issue. And domestic structures and geopolitical environment are ever changing.
Diplomacy requires confident, creative and consistent improvisation and imagination to deal with uncertainties in a creative way.
(The author is a veteran Philippine diplomat. He was the Philippine Permament Representative to the United Nations (May 2003- Feb.2007). Prior to that, he was Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy.)
(VERA Files is put out by veteran journalists taking a deeper look at current issues. Vera is Latin for “true.”)
02 Feb 2012
I agree very much, we should be careful in making statements that is detrimental to our claims.
Sad to say, on the contrary that is what happened to Amalilio in Kota Kinabalu, already in our hands, however, because of the EPALS who try to grab credit, the local authorities there decided not to let him take the flight.
What is the lesson learned here…..
– Other camps can easily telegraph our govertment’s next move, and
– No to EPALS and keep our official’s @#%$&! mouth shut up.
prans
In fairness to Secretary del Rosario, he has kept quiet after the filing of the case.
It’s President Aquino who seems to be uncontrollable. He said something in Davos.
They should learn from the Chinese, it’s only the foreign minsitry spokesman who speaks on the subject. You never hear Hu Jintao, Wen Jiabao and the incoming president, Xi Jinping, discuss the case.
Pnoy, keep your mouth shut already about this matter,it is now at the UNCLOS.
I think the President is entitled to talk apart from the fact that he is soliciting a just support from the other countries. And besides, personally I am following this report every now and then so I supposed filipino people deserve the right to be informed.