No mention of WPS issue in PH draft reso on regional peace, stability during APPF

Despite the ongoing tension over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) between China and the Philippines, the matter was not mentioned in the country’s draft resolution on strengthening the capacity of parliaments to promote regional peace and stability during the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF 31).

In a press conference on Thursday, Nov. 23, Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri explained that the Philippines’ specific problems like the WPS issue or the arbitral ruling were not indicated since they want the resolution to be acceptable to all member-states.

“Walang botohan dito sa forum na ito. Ito ay consensus building o kailangan may consensus lahat ng parliaments about a particular issue (There’s no voting in this forum. What we do here is consensus building or getting the consensus of all parliaments about a particular issue),” he said.

“Siyempre pag ilalagay issue ng WPS dyan sigurado po may aalma, baka may magalit at hindi po tayo makakuha ng consensus (Of course if we will put WPS there, for sure someone will complain and might get mad we don’t get a consensus). What we’re trying to do is get the consensus from all member-states,” he added.

Yet Zubiri clarified that this does not change his position and it’s still very strong like what President Marcos has said: “We are friends to all enemies to none”.

However, the draft resolution on enhancing maritime security cooperation in Asia Pacific by Indonesia specifically mentioned calling upon APPF member-parliaments to fully respect the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This became the basis of the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea.

It will be debated and discussed during the working groups today and tomorrow morning. So, we will leave it up to the chairpersons on the draft resolution that will be filing to the drafting committee.

Asked whether this type of wording will be presented before China who also attended the APPF, Zubiri affirmed that it will be tackled.

“Safe to say that type of wording particularly respect for UNCLOS, freedom of navigation and possibly rules-based order will be discussed,” he said.

“If it will be adopted, we still have to find out after three days, but definitely it will be discussed. Remember that we’re only hosts there’s 19 other countries. And of course, on day one, ayaw po natin makipag-away agad,” he added.

He stated that as hosts they have to show respect to each and every country. Zubiri mentioned that they were elated that China came with a big delegation.

“So dialogue should always be there, constant dialogue and discussions on how we can come up with a common stance on how we will treat one another in the South China Sea, West Philippine Sea,” Zubiri stated.

“So we’re happy that the delegation has come to the Philippines, they could choose not to come but they came, and therefore we should accept them with open arms and we should discuss with them like senior and seasoned parliamentarians on how we can resolve the issue maybe once and for all,” he added.