PHL to seek int'l arbitration in Spratlys dispute

The Philippine government will bring the dispute over the Spratly Islands to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Monday. "The Philippines is prepared to defend its position in accordance [with] international law. We suggested the proper forum will be the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea," DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario said at a press conference. Del Rosario said he has already informed government officials of China, one of the claimants in the Spratly dispute, about their suggestion during an official visit there last week. China, however, has yet to respond. Del Rosario said China maintained its position that they have never intruded into Philippine waters because they still see the Spratly Islands and the West Philippine Sea to be their territory — a claim the Philippines is contesting. "They still maintain sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea and the Spratlys, [but] our position also has not changed, we take the view what is ours is ours and what is disputed can be shared," the DFA secretary said, adding that the Philippines' claims are based on the 1992 UN Convention on the Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS). The Philippines has accused China of intruding into its territory, particularly near the Reed Bank off Palawan province, several times in the past months, basing the information on reports from the military. Del Rosario, however, noted that both China and the Philippines committed to resort to a peaceful means in resolving the conflict. "I think they (China) agreed to a peaceful resolution. [The] channels of communication will be left open and we will continue to dialogue," he said. He likewise said that they did not mention in their discussion the possible involvement of the United States, which has shown support to the Philippines, in the dispute. Del Rosario, meanwhile, said they have yet to set the dates for the visit of President Benigno Aquino III to China. He said they are considering scheduling it for the end of August or the first week of September. Aside from the Philippines and China, four other economies are claiming ownership of the Spratlys – Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, and Taiwan. - KBK, GMA News