President Rodrigo Duterte has taken a correct position on the need to defend the Philippines’ interest in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio said Monday.
However, Carpio, who attended the President’s third State of the Nation Address (Sona), said he was hoping the President would elaborate on how the government will protect its interest in the West Philippine Sea.
“How do we regain our sovereign rights? How do we defend it,” Carpio asked.
“I was hoping that he would elaborate on how we will protect our sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea because I think everybody agrees [that] we have to protect our sovereignty,” he added.
In his speech, Duterte mentioned the country’s “re-energized” relations with China that resulted in the discovery and dismantling of the clandestine shabu laboratories and the arrest of the members of the notorious Wu syndicate.
“Our improved relationship with China does not mean that we will waver in our commitment to defend our interest in the West Philippine Sea. This is why we engage China to this bilateral and multilateral platform such as the Asean-China and the Philippines-China bilateral consultation mechanism,” said Duterte.
“Opening lines of communication and managing differences have led to positive developments that include access of Filipino fishermen to the areas in dispute in the West Philippine Sea. Participation in the Asean-China dialogue has also resulted to the draft framework for the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea which intends to resolve peaceful disputes by peaceful means,” Duterte added.
Echoing Duterte, Carpio said the country’s friendly ties with China do not mean giving up on the country’s claim in the disputed sea.
“We can continue to trade with China while we continue to defend our sovereign rights. There’s no incompatibility there because we have other relations with China — trade, cultural, and all other matters.”
“But we should not do anything that will waive our rights in the WPS,” Carpio added.
The acting Chief Justice said that if China continues to build in the disputed areas, but the country is not taking any action “then we are waiving.”
“So we should keep on protesting because to protest doesn’t cost anything. It’s just a piece of paper, but you preserve your sovereignty over those islands,” Carpio said, adding that it would be more helpful if the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) would tell the public what kind of protests have been filed.
“Because for example, Sandy Cay, China seized Sandy Cay from us last year and the DFA Secretary said we will not protest. Since he said that, then we know there was no protest over the seizure of Sandy Cay and that is one of the most important developments recently,” Carpio said. /ee