Aquino: PH, China must ‘respect’ each other, int’l laws

President Benigno Aquino III. INQUIRER PHOTO

Outgoing President Benigno Aquino III on Friday said “respect for each other and the laws that bind us in the community of nations” were what would make the future relations between the Philippines and China “brighter,” making the statement ahead of the much-anticipated ruling of a United Nations Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) to resolve the maritime row between the two nations.

President Aquino made the remarks with Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua seated on stage as the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) jointly celebrated 118^th Independence Day and the 15^th Filipino-Chinese Friendship Day.

Mr. Aquino praised the FFCCCII for its support for the Philippines, not only in trade and investment, disaster response, and community work, but also for “the important role” the organization played in “fostering greater understanding and closer ties of friendship between the Philippines and China—whether in terms of cultural activities, trade and investment, or even in the informal manner in which you have served as a channel of communications, given the disputes in the sea known by many names.”

The President stressed that both the Philippines and China “want to do what is best for our respective peoples.”

“For two peoples that have lived and worked near each other for centuries, our shared future can be even brighter so long as we continue to respect each other and the laws that bind us in the community of nations, and to do our part to ensure peace, stability, and progress in our corner of the world,” Mr. Aquino said.

For his part, Zhao also expressed optimism on the future relations between the Philippines and China, noting that the two nations’ bilateral trade relations had grown “despite recent difficulties.”

“China attaches great importance in our relationship with the Philippines and has always regarded Philippines as a friend rather than foe, partner rather than rival … I firmly believe that the future of China-Philippine relations will be brighter, friendship between our peoples will be deeper, bilateral cooperation between our two countries will be more fruitful,” Zhao said.

China wants the Philippines to pursue bilateral talks to resolve the maritime row in the South China Sea and appears hopeful that incoming President Rodrigo Duterte would be acquiescent compared to Mr. Aquino who rallied the regional and international communities in urging China to follow the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos).

President Aquino also campaigned at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to adopt a multilateral Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.

Most importantly, the Philippines filed an arbitration case against China before the arbitral court to invalidate China’s so-called nine-dash line that encroached within the Philippines’ 200-mile exclusive economic zone.

The Hague-based court is expected to hand down a verdict in the next few weeks.

China has refused to part in the proceedings and said it would not recognize the court’s ruling.