MARITIME ORDER | US calls on China to obey international law amid West Philippine Sea intrusions

July 12, 2021 , 12:19 PM

By Kiko Demigillo

(July 12, 2021) – The United States (US) Department of State on Monday called on China to abide by obligations under international law as the Philippines commemorated the fifth anniversary of the landmark victory on the West Philippine Sea dispute.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration stating China has “no lawful claim to the area determined by the Arbitral Tribunal to be part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.”

“The People’s Republic of China (PRC) continues to coerce and intimidate Southeast Asian coastal states, threatening freedom of navigation in this critical global throughway,” said Blinken in a statement. “The PRC and the Philippines, pursuant to their treaty obligations under the Law of the Sea Convention, are legally bound to comply with this decision.”

Blinked also reiterated the defense policy of the US with the Philippines regarding maritime claims in the West Philippine Sea.

“We also reaffirm that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke US mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty,” said Blinken.

China has sent almost 300 fishing vessels reportedly manned by maritime militias in the West Philippine Sea, ignoring the countless diplomatic protests of the Department of National Defense and the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Despite the continued intrusions, President Rodrigo Duterte has maintained his friendly stance, saying there’s no way the Philippines would want to antagonize China further, especially after the concessions given to the country in recent years.

“I’m stating it for the record, we do not want war with China. China is a good friend. Mayroon tayong utang na loob na marami, pati ‘yung bakuna natin,” said Duterte last April 28.

Bilateral relations between the Philippines and the US have also suffered setbacks due to Duterte’s “friendly approach” to China as well as his repeated criticism against the US.

Despite this, Duterte, who also called the landmark decision “just a piece of paper,” decided to extend by another six months its Visiting Forces Agreement with the US after previously threating to end it.

The US continues to deploy vessels in the West Philippine Sea, including the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike last April, amid maritime tensions between the Philippines and China

Blinken stressed that China must follow international law and stop its bullying tactics.

“We call on the PRC to abide by its obligations under international law, cease its provocative behavior, and take steps to reassure the international community that it is committed to the rules-based maritime order that respects the rights of all countries, big and small,” said Blinken. (PM)

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