SUMMARY
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MANILA, Philippines – Singapore wants peace, like the Philippines, but is not siding with any claimant-country in the South China Sea.
The Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday, September 11, said this is Singapore’s stance on South China Sea disputes. The DFA clarified this a day after the Singaporean Foreign Ministry contradicted Philippine media reports that Singapore is backing the Philippines in the territorial row.
“It is correct to say that Singapore is not taking sides in the territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). Singapore supports the same principled position of the Philippines in pursuing a resolution of disputes through peaceful means in accordance with international law,” the DFA said in a statement.
“It moreover encourages the exercise of restraint and is against the use of force. Finally, it also shares with us the desire to have an early conclusion of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-China Code of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea,” the DFA added.
On Monday, September 10, Singapore criticized Philippine media for reporting that Singapore is now “backing” the Philippines in South China Sea disputes.
“You all know how free the Filipino media is; they can even be very free with the facts… Unlike the Filipino media reports you refer to, we deal with facts not fiction,” the Singaporean Foreign Ministry said.
On Sunday, September 9, The Manila Bulletin and The Philippine Star said Singapore supposedly supports the Philippines in South China Sea disputes.
Quoting Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, both newspapers said President Benigno Aquino III thanked Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong “for the very strong support that Singapore has given the Philippines in terms of its position in the West Philippine Sea.”
The two news outlets also quoted Del Rosario as saying, “Singapore has committed to continue its support in terms of a peaceful resolution of the disputes in accordance with international law including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.” – Rappler.com
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