Senator: Lack of Asean agreement over sea row alarming

Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Source: Sun Star

MANILA -- Senator Loren Legarda expressed disappointment over the failure of the Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to agree on a joint statement on China's activities in the West Philippine Sea.

Cambodia, this year's summit chairperson, blocked the Philippines' move last week to include the issue about the ongoing standoff with China over the resource-rich Panatag (Scarborough) shoal. It is the first time in its 45 years of existence that Asean has failed to issue a statement regarding a pressing matter at the conclusion of its meetings.

"The developments, or lack of it, are unsettling. It has been 10 years since Asean adopted the DOC (Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea). Asean's true test comes in its ability to maintain a united Southeast Asia that is able to engage constructively with Asia and the rest of the world, without losing Asean centrality," Legarda, chairperson of the Senate committee on foreign relations, said.
The senator said she understand why Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario had wanted a factual reference to the standoff to be reflected in the statement, adding it is vital in the laying the basis of the code of conduct.

"The COC cannot just appear from nowhere without a valid premise and basis for its necessity. Asean needs to face the issues that threaten the stability of the region and collectively find solutions to address these," she said.

China lauded on Tuesday the conclusion of the Foreign Ministers' Meetings last week in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Phen.

In a statement issued by Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei, China believed that the Asean meeting has yielded "positive results."

"The Chinese side noticed that the Asean Foreign Ministers' Meetings didn't issue a communiqué but Asean members have reached broad consensus on further acceleration of the building of the Asean community," said Hong.

The Chinese government assured Asean members of its continued support in promoting regional development and cooperation.

"China will maintain its support for the building of the Asean community, and comprehensively push forward the pragmatic cooperation in all areas for mutual benefit and win-win outcome," said Hong.

China, which is 472 miles away, used historical data to back up its claim but maps dating back to the 18th century would show that the shoal was referred to by American and British explorers as part of the Philippine archipelago.

The shoal is also within the Philippines' 200-mile exclusive economic zone based on international law. (Virgil Lopez/HDT/Sunnex)