South China Sea Forum

[Bob Ong]

Aquino hopeful about talks on West Philippine Sea code of conduct
By TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Tuesday, April 23rd, 2013

MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III is flying to Brunei Wednesday for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit, optimistic that the push for talks on the code of conduct in the (West Philippine Sea) South China Sea with China would prosper.

The Asean has reached a consensus to push for an early conclusion of negotiations on a legally binding code of conduct that would govern any conflict over overlapping claims in the international waterway between member-countries and China.

“We’re optimistic that we’ll see progress because of the 22nd summit,’’ one of the President’s spokespersons, Abigail Valte, said at a Malacañang news briefing.

Valte observed that Brunei has updated its priorities in its chairmanship of Asean this year following last year’s Asean consensus that the time was ripe to negotiate a code of conduct on the West Philippine Sea.

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei week flew to Manila last week for a brief state visit to discuss the agenda of the summit with Aquino.

The Associated Press reported that a draft statement to be issued after the summit would reaffirm the Asean leaders’ commitment to ensure peaceful resolution of conflicts in the waterway in accordance with international law “without resorting to the threat or use of force.’’

The Asean leaders would call for an “early adoption’’ of the code of conduct with Beijing, which has maintained that the time wasn’t ripe for it, and preferred to negotiate with individual claimants.

The Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam of Asean, as well as China and Taiwan have overlapping claims over the West Philippine Sea that over the last few years has become a flashpoint for conflict.

Observers said the tense standoff between Philippines and Chinese vessels at the Scarborough Shoal in April last year underlined the importance of a code of conduct with Beijing.

Aquino is flying Wednesday afternoon for the opening of the summit in Bandar Seri Begawan with three Chinese surveillance ships still in the area, despite earlier agreement by both countries to withdraw.

The continuing intrusion is a violation of the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the West Philippine Sea, a 2002 non-aggression accord, foreign affairs officials said.

The brief, two-day summit opens with a “working dinner’’ hosted by Bolkiah on Wednesday night. The next day at the Retreat Session, the leaders will exchange views on regional and international issues, and the future of the regional bloc.

Aquino will also join his counterparts in the 9th Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Summit after the retreat session.

Joining the President are Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras and presidential spokesperson Secretary Edwin Lacierda.

Apart from pushing for the code, the Philippines has challenged China’s claim over most of the West Philippine Sea by filing a notification and statement of claim with the United Nations.

 

[hurt]

Here we go again, China's plan of domination.

Be a responsible member of the international community. If you only strictly follow the law of the sea set by UNCLOS, everything will be in order. The problem is your greed it's getting bigger and bigger just like your population.

Waiting Plz.You will know the result

 

[shuttler]

China don't have balls. The Philippines and Japan is waiting for your first shot.

You were looking at inside of your pants and those of the japanese shown on dvds

We are in control of 黄岩岛 Huangyan Dao and maintaining routine petrol of Diaoyu Islands!

 

[shuttler]

Here we go again, China's plan of domination.

we have given you an option. The option was mentioned in one of your post. Domination comes with our growing strength. it is
normal for one country to confirm and remind intruders of their sovereignty claims.

Be a responsible member of the international community. If you only strictly follow the law of the sea set by UNCLOS, everything will be in order. The problem is your greed it's getting bigger and bigger just like your population.

We always are a responsible member. The international law does not apply to one's sovereignty territory. That is not greed but grace and magnanimity when we offer to your government for co-exploration of resources in our area

 

[Bob Ong]

we have given you an option. The option was mentioned in one of your post. Domination comes with our growing strength. it is
normal for one country to confirm and remind intruders of their sovereignty claims.



We always are a responsible member. The international law does not apply to one's sovereignty territory. That is not greed but grace and magnanimity when we offer to your government for co-exploration of resources in our area

So you are now saying that what China is doing now is justified?

Your country based sovereignty through a historical map. You NEVER even clarified the basis of your claim.

The "nine-dotted-lines" map essentially encompasses the whole South China Sea.

The map carries no clear explanation as to the legal basis, the method of drawing used, the status of those separated dotted lines and to claim your neighbors' exclusive economic zones is grave blunder. You can't mark lines on waters.

Obviously your ridiculous claim is only an excuse to justify your thirst for oil even to the extent of ignoring the provisions of the UNCLOS of which your country is a signatory.

 

[shuttler]

So you are now saying that what China is doing now is justified?

Your country based sovereignty through a historical map. You NEVER even clarified the basis of your claim. The "nine-dotted-lines" map essentially encompasses the whole South China Sea.

The map carries no clear explanation as to the legal basis, the method of drawing used, the status of those separated dotted lines and to claim your neighbors' exclusive economic zones is grave blunder. You can't mark lines on waters.

We are justified for the rightful claim of our land in history which includes the Map among all other things regardless of international laws which apply to international areas

Obviously your ridiculous claim is only an excuse to justify your thirst for oil because you know that the South China Sea is rich in oil reserves. Even to the extent of ignoring the provisions of the UNCLOS of which your country is a signatory.

we asked you for joint-explorations didnt we?

 

[Zero_wing]

Hahaha really how come your killing of endanger species and using methods that are internationally illegal and using hostility to take ships and territories not part and have been locally govern by the respective countries of the area. responsible tell that to the people how have been killed or in the hospital both your own country and the occupied territories and the country your now invading and the people you so called helping in Africa (stealing resources and collocating with corrupt leaders of the countries your stealing from) Responsible ha! What a Joke!

 

[Bob Ong]

We are justified for the rightful claim of our land in history which includes the Map among all other things regardless of international laws which apply to international areas



we asked you for joint-explorations didnt we?

You are right about the sharing of responsibility for the development of the resources but certainly not on a 50:50 basis. If it is our territory, then, we have control of the venture and it has to be operated under Philippines laws.

A joint venture on a 50:50 basis would simply not be workable because China would simply do what they want anyway. Someone has to be in control. Once that's resolved then by all means let's have a joint venture.

 

[shuttler]

You are right about the sharing of responsibility for the development of the resources but certainly not on a 50:50 basis. If it is our territory, then, we have control of the venture and it has to be operated under Philippines laws.

A joint venture on a 50:50 basis would simply not be workable because China would simply do what they want anyway. Someone has to be in control. Once that's resolved then by all means let's have a joint venture.

the sharing can be negotiable
we want sovereignty because we dont want to be boxed in by the us-japanese collusion
if your government can accept the terms, we can help elevate the Philippines to the next level higher up, through our economic, science & tech co-operations as well as for the improvment of your harbours, infrastructures at affordable prices!

 

[Zero_wing]

AKA its stupid and we are not stupid we are weak for now but not stupid! I mean one you want us to share the resource of our own waters and lands and you don't even wanna follow our laws and claim majority of the resources for yourselves leaving us with cents as income and you call that far and sharing hahahahahaha man that's good imbecilic idea i have ever heard and regardless of what? Sir international law may not be strong as Municipal Law but still its a Law, A law design to benefit all nations in the world while you wanna follow it in your own convenience in your mindset in reality it must be followed upon because majority of nations agree to it for mutual benefit and protection so please try to understand logic real logic

 

[Soryu]

we have given you an option. The option was mentioned in one of your post. Domination comes with our growing strength. it is
normal for one country to confirm and remind intruders of their sovereignty claims.



We always are a responsible member. The international law does not apply to one's sovereignty territory. That is not greed but grace and magnanimity when we offer to your government for co-exploration of resources in our area

the sharing can be negotiated
we want sovereignty because we dont want to be boxed in by the us-japanese collusion
if your government can accept the terms, we can help elevate the Philippines to the next level higher up, through our economic, science & tech co-operations as well as for the improvment of your harbours, infrastructures at affordable prices!

Chinese face alway thick like this.
On one side they said those Islands and Sea were their "core interests" and non-controversy, but on other side, they said "hey, We can share you something and co-operations in somewhere, just recognition those thing which we claim belong to us, and we have all right on those, OK!" ...

 

[shuttler]

Chinese face alway thick like this.
On one side they said those Islands and Sea were their "core interests" and non-controversy, but on other side, they said "hey, We can share you something and co-operations in somewhere, just recognition those thing which we claim belong to us, and we have all right on those, OK!" ...

you vietcong bullies still live in stone age

 

[Rechoice]

you vietcong bullies still live in stone age

Head of Mr. Ah Q is empty don't has nothing to troll.

 

[Soryu]

you vietcong bullies still live in stone age

Yeah, We live in stone age and drill oils in SCS,...

 

[Vitchilo]

you vietcong bullies still live in stone age

Yeah the bully lives in the stone age... makes total sense. Usually the bully is the one with power pushing the weaker people around... according to you, the bully would be CHINA since China is stronger than Vietnam... so you would be right... China is the bully.