MANILA, Philippines (Eagle News) — Malacanang said that it would continue communicating with other member-countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the international community in addressing the campaign against China’s continued reclamation work in the West Philippine Sea.
Communications Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr., said the country’s moves would be centered on diplomacy, as it continued to push for the crafting of a binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea in the ASEAN.
Coloma said that ASEAN member countries and many members of the United Nations are signatories to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS.
The Philippines will continue to insist that the provisions of UNCLOS should be observed in addressing the dispute, he said.
“Ang ating kampanya ay nakasentro sa larangang pangdiplomatiko at tayo ay patuloy na nakikipag-ugnayan sa ibang mga bansang kasapi ng ASEAN and the entire international community,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. told reporters during the daily press briefing on Tuesday
The country has lodged an arbitration case at the international tribunal, asking the judicial body to clarify conflicting claims in the West Philippine Sea. The move has been strongly opposed by China, which said it would not participate in the arbitration case.
Coloma added that the government is increasing and strengthening the facilities for the use of the Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy especially in connection to the patrolling of our seas.
“Nakapagtatag na tayo ng command center, na bahagi ng ating National Coast Watch System, so that we will have heightened situational awareness doon sa lahat ng nagaganap sa loob ng ating kapuluan. (We have already established a command center as part of our National Coast Watch System so that we will have heightened situational awareness in what is happening inside our archipelago),” he said. (Eagle News Service)