Ruling on sea case affirms faith in rule of law–Justice Carpio

The decision of the United Nations (UN) Arbitral Tribunal reaffirms mankind’s faith in the rule of law in peacefully resolving disputes between states, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio has said in a statement.

Carpio was part of the Philippine delegation that argued before the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA).

The rule of law Carpio was referring to is enshrined in the United Nation’s charter.

“The ruling also reaffirms Unclos as the constitution for the oceans of our planet,” Carpio said.

Unclos or the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is a treaty ratified by 167 states, including China and the Philippines.

“The ruling applies the fundamental law of the sea principle that ‘land dominates the sea,’ that is, any claim to maritime zones must emanate from land and can extend only to the limits prescribed under Unclos. No state can claim almost an entire sea contrary to this fundamental principle and maritime limits,” Carpio said.

He added that the decision also reaffirmed the wisdom in the Philippine Constitution in renouncing war as an instrument of national police and in adopting international law as part of the laws of Philippines.

“The ruling manifests the faithful compliance by the Philippine government to the Philippine Constitution, which mandates that the ‘state shall protect the nation’s marine wealth in its xxx exclusive economic zone, and reserve its use and enjoyment exclusively to Filipino citizens,’” Carpio added.