Respect UN arbitral tribunal’s decision, China, PH told

THE UN arbitral tribunal has ruled on the territorial dispute between the Philippines and China. The tribunal dismissed China’s “nine-dash line” claim to almost all of the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, and declared that certain areas are within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, citing the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea as basis.

The dispute dragged on for more than 20 years. There were attempts to resolve it through bilateral, regional and/or multilateral talks, until it was submitted in 2013 to the United Nations for arbitration.

The Confederation of Lawyers of Asia and the Pacific (Colap) entreats the parties to the dispute to respect the tribunal’s decision for the cause of regional peace, stability and security.  We note that both countries have had a history of strong diplomatic relations with each other for over four decades, and we sincerely hope that such ties will even become stronger despite the decision.

Colap reiterates its previous call on all states to have faith in the mechanisms of the United Nations and/or let good faith guide them in their search for a just resolution to territorial disputes. Colap also reiterates its admonition to states locked in such disputes to respect and deal with one another as sovereign equals and to give due regard to the opposing party’s right of self-determination.

Colap once more seizes this opportunity to remind all states that the Charter of the United Nations provides that “(a)ll Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered”  and that “parties to any dispute, the continuance of which is likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security, shall, first of all, seek a solution by negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, resort to regional agencies or arrangements, or other peaceful means of their own choice.”

On a final note, Colap recognizes that all peoples of the world are interdependent and their interests are interwoven, and that a harm committed against one is a harm committed against everyone. Any unrest in any part of the world is unrest everywhere. States must, therefore, resolve disputes through peaceful means elaborated in international norms for the harmonious coexistence of all peoples.

—JITENDRA SHARMA (India), president, NERI COLMENARES, vice president, JUN SASAMOTO (Japan), secretary general, EDRE OLALIA (Philippines), secretary, Confederation of Lawyers of Asia and the Pacific