Damaged was been done long before! PALUSOT ANG MGA IDIOTS! MANILA, Philippines – China warned Tuesday, April 1, that the Philippines has seriously damaged bilateral ties by asking the United Nations to rule in their favor in a maritime dispute. Manila at the weekend asked a UN tribunal to declare Beijings claims over most of the strategically significant South China Sea illegal, submitting nearly 4,000 pages of evidence to back its case. It argues that the Chinese stance contravenes the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and interferes with the Philippines sovereign rights to its continental shelf. What the Philippine side did seriously damaged bilateral relations with China, Charge daffaires Sun Xiangyang of the Chinese embassy in Manila said in a statement. (READ: China: Ayungin trip betrays PH intent) We find it very hard to understand these moves of the Philippines and we are deeply disturbed by and concerned with the consequence of such moves. Both countries are signatories to UNCLOS, but Beijing argues that its provisions do not apply to the row. (READ: China rejects PH case, invokes intl law) The embassy statement urged the Philippines to correct its mistake and come back to the right track of resolving the disputes through bilateral negotiations. China – which is vastly more powerful than any of the several countries it has disputes with in the strategically significant waters – prefers to negotiate with them individually, rather than in international forums. (READ: Philippines ready for China ‘sanctions’) Apart from China, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also claim parts of the sea. Suns comments followed a commentary in Peoples Daily, the official mouthpiece of the Communist Party, denouncing Manilas move. The act of the Philippine side is against the international law and the historical truth as well as against morality and basic rules of international relations, it said. Manila had provoked China by going to so-called international arbitration, a move that is both illegal and unreasonable and an act lacking credibility, it said. The Philippines attempted to solicit international sympathy through disguising itself as a small and weak country, the commentary said. Manila was attempting to legalize its invasion of Chinese islands through the arbitration, it added. (READ: PH military chief: China provoked us) Provocative and destabilizing The invective from Chinas state-run media comes as the United States and Japan have rallied to the Philippines defense. Tokyo – which is also embroiled in a bitter territorial row with Beijing – issued a statement hailing Manilas move, which it said was aimed at peaceful settlement of disputes on the basis of international law. Such an action contributes to the maintenance and enhancement of the international order in the region based on the rule of law, the Japanese foreign ministry said. Meanwhile Washington, which is a treaty ally of Manila, sharply criticized an attempted Chinese blockade of a Philippine vessel that led to a dramatic two-hour standoff at the weekend. The move was a provocative and destabilizing action, US State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf told reporters on Monday, March 31. Harfs statement triggered a stern retort from Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei, who maintained Tuesday that it is without any doubt that the Philippines is the provocateur and troublemaker. Hong also said that Philippine Ambassador to China Erlinda Basilio was summoned to hear Chinas strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the arbitration attempt. In the meeting, deputy foreign minister Liu Zhenmin asked the Philippine side to correct mistakes and return to the right track, Hong said. Philippine President Benigno Aquino III vowed Monday to press ahead with the legal appeal. (READ: Aquino: PH not provoking China) We are not here to challenge China, to provoke them into any action, but I do believe that they should recognize we also have the right to defend our own interests, he told reporters. (READ: Malacañang vows continued diplomacy amid PH-China row) – Rappler
Posted on: Wed, 02 Apr 2014 11:32:03 +0000
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