China agrees to adopt APPF resolution with mention of UNCLOS

Parliamentarians from China on Saturday have agreed to adopt a resolution at the 31st Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) which seeks to maintain peace in the use of the seas consistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

This comes after Beijing initially objected to the resolutions sponsored by the Philippines and Indonesia on maritime security and settling of disputes using international law, such as the UNCLOS.

"We are very happy that the delegation from China graciously accepted our proposed amendment. So, we included and initially they didn't want to have any mention of the UNCLOS and freedom of navigation, pero pumayag na rin sila,” said Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri in a press conference.

The UNCLOS is an international basis on the navigation of the seas which has been consistently rejected by China amid its territorial claim in the South China Sea.

During the final plenary session of the APPF, the body adopted 10 resolutions including one which pertains to the Strengthening of the Capacity of Parliaments to Promote Peace and Stability.

“The APPF Member Parliaments further committed to increase their efforts in promoting and maintaining peace, security, stability, safety, and freedom of the high seas, consistent with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The APPF Member parliaments also resolved to protect the marine environment and biodiversity and promote a safe and sustainable blue economy that can benefit all nations,” the 31st APPF Joint Communique read.

The Joint Communique serves as the final document for the conclusion of the annual forum.

Based on APPF rules, resolutions were only adopted through a consensus. Once any member state opposes it, the resolution is considered rejected.

Under the final version of the resolution, Zubiri said it will contain a provision stating “recognizing that the maritime regime in the region based on international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea, UNCLOS, that sets up a legal order for the peaceful use of the seas and oceans, including freedom of navigation and overflight, and other internationally lawful uses of the sea related to these freedoms has facilitated our region's impressive economic growth.”

For the Senate president, China agreeing to the inclusion of UNCLOS in the resolution “is a key essential.”

Zubiri said the adoption of such in the joint communique carries “persuasive weight.”

“It’s not an order or a law, but it carries a lot of persuasive effect and lobbying to different parliaments because we come together with these wishes for our region. Will it be implemented?  That’s a different story, but at the very least, we came together to approve all these 10 resolutions for the betterment of our region. We hope that it will have some persuasive effect,” Zubiri said.

He attributed the apparent change of position of China on the AFFP resolution to his “friendly persuasive powers” during a social gathering on Friday night.

“Ang sabi ko naman sa kanila, hindi masamang tao ang mga Pilipino. Sabi ko sa kanila, sa tingin ko hindi masamang tao ang mga Chinese. Merong mga leaders siguro, policy nila ‘yung gusto nilang mangyari pero wag natin [pag-awayin] ‘yung ating iba’t ibang kababayan at kababayan nila, cause I know within their hearts they like peace in the region and I think the head of Chinese delegation is nodding his head, he agreed and thankful for the warm welcome they received,” he shared.

Apart from the resolution on strengthening the capacity of parliaments to promote peace and stability, the following agreements were adopted during the final plenary session of the 31st APPF:

• Korean Peninsula
• Combating Transnational Crimes
• Gender and Sustainable Development Goals
• Women’s Participation and Leadership
• Rethinking Critical Infrastructure
• Enhancing Regional Cooperation on Climate Action, Biodiversity Conservation, and Disaster Risk Reduction
• Human Capital Development and Inclusive Growth
• Regional Cooperation through Education and Culture
• Regional Cooperation on Universal Health Care in the Asia-Pacific

—VAL, GMA Integrated News