Philippines takes maritime dispute with China to UN

MANILA The Philippines has taken its territorial dispute with China before a UN court of arbitration, disputing Chinese claims to much of the South China Sea. Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert del Rosario told reporters in Manila that the case was made under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, signed in 1982 by both countries, "which declared that the Chinese claims over the region invalid". Philippines takes maritime dispute with China to UN "The Philippines has exhausted almost all political and diplomatic means for a peaceful settlement of maritime disputes with China," Rosario was quoted as saying by the AFP. He pointed out that on many occasions since 1995 his country's officials exchanged views with Chinese counterparts on a peaceful settlement of the issue, but to date have not found a solution. "We hope that the arbitration proceedings will bring this dispute to a permanent solution," said Rosario. Beijing argues that since ancient times, much of the South China Sea with the two larger archipelagos has been under its sovereignty, while the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan say that parts opposite to their land territory belong to them. The decades-long territorial disputes have particularly intensified in recent years as China has intensified its patrolling of the area, while the United States, which has been shifting its attention to the Asia-Pacific region, encouraged their allies the Philippines and former enemy Vietnam to take a tougher line on Beijing's claims. The South China Sea has thus become one of the most sensitive military hot spots, becoming increasingly tense as countries are starting the exploration of oil and gas, and stating their claim to certain territories more loudly. China - which has been presenting its demands in an increasingly determined manner - is being charged by its neighbors of endangering their sovereignty over certain territories, as well as freedom of navigation. Important trade routes pass through this sea, while on some of the disputed islands, Vietnam and the Philippines have military outposts and are engaged in oil and gas exploration. China late last year further angered the two countries by issuing new passports that show a map presenting the disputed territories in the South China Sea as Chinese. Washington has said that it was urging Beijing and its neighbors "to develop a code of conduct as a first step to reduce tensions in South China Sea". According to this, the U.S. "would not take sides in the dispute, but insists that the maritime routes in the region remain available for international shipping". Tanjug

Philippines takes maritime dispute with China to UN

"The Philippines has exhausted almost all political and diplomatic means for a peaceful settlement of maritime disputes with China," Rosario was quoted as saying by the AFP.

He pointed out that on many occasions since 1995 his country's officials exchanged views with Chinese counterparts on a peaceful settlement of the issue, but to date have not found a solution.

"We hope that the arbitration proceedings will bring this dispute to a permanent solution," said Rosario.

Beijing argues that since ancient times, much of the South China Sea with the two larger archipelagos has been under its sovereignty, while the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan say that parts opposite to their land territory belong to them.

The decades-long territorial disputes have particularly intensified in recent years as China has intensified its patrolling of the area, while the United States, which has been shifting its attention to the Asia-Pacific region, encouraged their allies the Philippines and former enemy Vietnam to take a tougher line on Beijing's claims.

The South China Sea has thus become one of the most sensitive military hot spots, becoming increasingly tense as countries are starting the exploration of oil and gas, and stating their claim to certain territories more loudly.

China - which has been presenting its demands in an increasingly determined manner - is being charged by its neighbors of endangering their sovereignty over certain territories, as well as freedom of navigation.

Important trade routes pass through this sea, while on some of the disputed islands, Vietnam and the Philippines have military outposts and are engaged in oil and gas exploration.

China late last year further angered the two countries by issuing new passports that show a map presenting the disputed territories in the South China Sea as Chinese.

Washington has said that it was urging Beijing and its neighbors "to develop a code of conduct as a first step to reduce tensions in South China Sea".

According to this, the U.S. "would not take sides in the dispute, but insists that the maritime routes in the region remain available for international shipping".