PH eyes raising WPS issue before UN General Assembly

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday said it is considering filing a resolution with the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to address China’s continued aggression in the West Philippine Sea.

Nueva Ecija 2nd District Representative Joseph Gilbert Violago, the designated sponsor of the proposed  P27.392-billion budget of the DFA and its attached agencies for 2025, shared the announcement during the House plenary budget deliberations.

“Mr. Speaker, your Honor, ang DFA ay may plano ho talagang mag-file ng resolusyon [the DFA really plans to file a resolution] with the UN General Assembly on the Philippines’ territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea,” Violago said.

“The recommendation to file a particular resolution with the United Nations General Assembly would have to be subject to necessity and prudence. The Department appreciates the recommendation and continues to study its implication,” he added.

Violago, on DFA’s behalf, made the explanation when asked by OFW party-list Rep. Marissa “Del Mar” Magsino about the DFA’s position on the recommendations to bring forward the issue regarding China’s attacks towards Filipinos in the West Philippine Sea.

According to him, the DFA maintains the view that the UNGA is the venue for decisions on human development issues that concern the conditions faced by humanity as a whole, and is not the venue for political debates.

The solon also underscored the importance of peaceful talks in addressing the long-standing issue in the region.

“Ang role ng DFA ay ika nga maiparating sa bansang China ang ating mga karapatan sa West Philippine Sea. Kaya naman po patuloy ang tinatawag nating mga bilateral talks at mga pangangamapanya regarding sa teritoryong,” Violago said.

(The role of the DFA is to convey to China our rights in the West Philippine Sea. That's why we continue to hold bilateral talks and campaigns regarding our territory.)

“Alam naman natin Mr. Speaker na kahit sabihin nating paulit ulit na ginagawa ito, pinaka-epektibo pa ring paraan ang isang pakikipag-usap, rather than dumating tayo sa isang marahas na pangyayari. Kaya laging peaceful talks at communication sa China ang ating ginagawa,” he continued.

(Mr. Speaker, even if we say that these talks are just repeatedly being done, we know that communication is still the most effective way, rather than we come to a violent event. That's why we always do peaceful talks and communicate with China.)

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo will represent the Philippines if bilateral talks with China push through at the sidelines of the UNGA this month in New York, according to Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel "Babe" Romualdez.

Romualdez said Manila's agenda is to "follow up" on lowering tension in the WPS as the government continues its diplomatic efforts to address regional issues.

The envoy added that the government aims to send China a message that aside from the Philippines, other countries also disapprove of the Asian Superpower’s "dangerous actions" in the region.

The Philippine government sued China before an international arbitral tribunal in The Hague in 2013. It ruled in favor of the Philippines in July 2016 when it junked China's nine-dash claim over the South China Sea.

China, however, rejected the Philippines' call to comply with the 2016 arbitration ruling, describing the decision "illegal and invalid.” — RSJ, GMA Integrated News