Pols should bare stand on China issue, says DFA

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines—Foreign Assistant Secretary Charles Jose said the country’s territorial dispute with China on the West Philippine Sea should be an election issue as the country gears up for the 2016 presidential polls.

Presidential candidates should make known their stand on the dispute with China in the West Philippine Sea, Jose said in two separate forums in Dumaguete City on Thursday.

He explained that the next President may have a different approach in pursuing the Philippines’ territorial claims against China.

Currently, the United Nations arbitral tribunal is hearing the case filed by the Philippines against China over disputed portions of the South China Sea, with oral arguments presented in early July in The Hague, the Netherlands.

The next Philippine president could well opt for bilateral negotiations instead if that person believes it is the best approach to the sea dispute, said Jose.

He said it was important that the public ask their candidates what their position is on the dispute with China.

The DFA executive said he believed China was interested in the 2016 presidential elections.

However, he expressed optimism that in early 2016, there would be a final decision by the international arbiters favoring the Philippines on the dispute.

Beijing has repeatedly announced it would not participate in the arbitration process and will not recognize any decision of the international tribunal.

Jose stressed that a decision from the international court would be a solid move to eventually resolve the row between China and the Philippines.

China cannot insist on what it keeps on bringing into play as indisputable sovereignty if the international court’s decision says otherwise, Jose said.

Asked about a worst case scenario, Jose replied: “We don’t have any.”

“We have a good case and we will get a favorable ruling from the international arbiters,” he added.–Judy Flores-Partlow, Inquirer Visayas