VP Binay pushes for DFA proposal on Spratlys

Advocating a regional rules-based approach to the territorial claims in the South China Sea, Vice President Jejomar Binay sought to set the tone for the two-day meeting of maritime legal experts of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that opened Thursday. “We believe that rules provide an effective tool for peaceful and fair resolution in the presence of disputes. A rules-based approach is the key to advancing the peaceful settlement of disputes for all countries concerned in the West Philippine Sea," Binay said in the meeting’s opening keynote address. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is expected to be present its proposal to adopt an approach to separate disputed from undisputed areas in the South China Sea by ‘enclaving’ the contested isles and surrounding waters. Commission on Maritime and Ocean Affairs secretary-general Henry S. Bensurto Jr. leads the Philippine delegation of maritime law experts. At the ASEAN Regional Forum in Bali, Indonesia last July, foreign ministers of the 10-member grouping of Southeast Asian nations tasked the legal experts’ conference to consider the Philippines’ proposal on establishing a Zone of Peace, Freedom, Friendship and Cooperation (ZoPFF/C) in the South China Sea. “We have no doubt that ASEAN is firmly one with us in the belief that adherence to international law will provide a stable and objective standard by which an efficient solution in the West Philippine Sea could be achieved," Binay said. He said the Asean meeting is expected to “present options" to ease the tensions. The ASEAN Legal Experts will present the results of their meeting to the Senior Officials’ Meeting before the ASEAN leaders have their summit conference in Bali next November. Aside from the Philippines and China, other countries claiming all or parts of the South China Sea are Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan. — ELR/VS, GMA News