Philippines seeks speedy UN ruling on China sea dispute

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines said Thursday, June 19, it would ask a UN tribunal to expedite its appeal to declare China’s expansive claims to the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) invalid, as tensions over the contested waters worsen.

A formal request will be filed seeking a resolution on the case within the year or early 2015, foreign department spokesman Charles Jose said.

“We are consulting our legal team to present a request to the tribunal if it can hasten its process earlier, rather than later,” Jose told Agence France-Presse.

He declined to say when the request would be formally transmitted, however.

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario separately said a speedier ruling was necessary “because the situation is getting worse by the day in the South China Sea”.

China claims most of the South China Sea, including waters near the shores of its neighbors, which has led to escalating territorial disputes.

“The only mechanism that’s out there right now … is arbitration,” del Rosario was quoted in local press reports as saying.

“So we hope to be able to get the arbitration in place, that will be the goal line for all of us,” del Rosario said.

“Hopefully since China is not participating perhaps we can get a quicker resolution from the tribunal,” said del Rosario.

Manila lodged an appeal in March with the United Nations tribunal to rule the claims illegal, but China has resolutely refused to participate in the proceedings.

Del Rosario has said he backs a US proposal for a fresh regional dialogue for a freeze on actions that could provoke tensions in the South China Sea amid fears that Beijing has increasingly become aggressive in staking its claims.

In recent months, the Philippines filed protests after it monitored reclamations in a number of outcrops in the sea region that are within its exclusive economic zone but are occupied by China.

In one of the outcrops, Johnson South Reef, the Philippines said the Chinese appeared to be reclaiming land that may turned into an airstrip.

Apart from the Philippines, China also has overlapping South China Sea claims with Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam, a well as with rival Taiwan. – Rappler.com