Duterte admin not abandoning arbitration ruling on South China Sea – Esperon

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National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. stressed on Wednesday that the Duterte administration was not abandoning the landmark ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration on South China Sea disputes that favored the Philippines.

“This administration does not and will not abandon the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration,” Esperon said in a statement.

His remark came amid a barrage of calls from lawmakers to assert the Philippines’ sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea amid China’s militarization in the disputed waters.

He said the country would take full advantage of the tribunal ruling “at the proper time.”

Esperon said the government has set aside the ruling in the meantime to promote peace and stability in the region through diplomatic actions.

The Philippines, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, and Taiwan have overlapping claims in the South China Sea.

“We will take full advantage of the ruling, even as China refuses to recognize this, to serve as basis for the country’s exercise of sovereignty and jurisdiction over features that are in the Philippine territorial waters,” he said.             /kga