What, a ‘bilateral’ filing for a court to have jurisdiction over a case?

China’s foreign ministry has just released an official statement saying that the Philippines “unilaterally closed the door to settling the South China Sea issue with China through negotiation.”  This is far from the truth.

What small country like the Philippines wouldn’t want to talk with a big nation like China to settle a conflict, a delicate and explosive one at that? Fact is, there had been bilateral talks and negotiations between the two nations in the past, but they failed due to China’s aggressive, malicious, unilateral (or betrayal) behavior across the negotiating table, away from the contested waters. This exactly was what prompted or forced Philippine officials to bring the problem up to the international court.

Then China falsely accuses the Philippines again of unilaterally elevating the West Philippine Sea dispute to the United Nations. But what did the Philippines have to do? Is there such a thing as a “bilateral” filing of a court action? Since when has an aggrieved party been required to be “bilateral”—or needed the offender’s permission so that the former can file in court a case against the latter?

Clearly, this repeated accusation—that the Philippines refuses to engage in a dialogue and consultations with the Chinese—and the allegation that this is the reason for the failed negotiations stand on hollow grounds and lack substance. When will the Chinese be real? Or will they ever come to their senses?

Be that as it may, the Philippines is not closing its door to a renewed negotiation with China—for the sake of the truth, to find a win-win solution to the problem.  We are very open to embracing each other again, nations respecting and partnering with each other for mutual progress.  There is always a way.  Sincerity is discernible. War should never be an option. And the threat to sow trouble should not be used as a bargain chip.

In the meantime, let the officials of the Philippines and China cross their fingers as they await the verdict of the UN court, and they should abide by it.

Peace is paramount.

—RENI M. VALENZUELA, [email protected]