(Opinion) Arbitration Ruling and Philippines-China Relations Under the Duterte Administration
2016-07-11 08:41:43 source：China-US Focus
By Rommel C. Banlaoi
July 7, 2016
"On July 12th, 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague will announce the ruling of the special five-member Arbitral Tribunal on the case filed by the Philippines against China over maritime disputes in the South China Sea.
Ahead of the announcement, Hong Lei, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, released an official statement reiterating Beijing's rejection of any ruling of the special tribunal. Lei stressed, 'The Chinese government will continue to abide by international law and basic norms governing international relations as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, and will continue to work with states directly concerned to resolve the relevant disputes in the South China Sea through negotiation and consultation on the basis of respecting historical facts and in accordance with international law, so as to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.' However, Lei also underscored that 'China does not accept any means of third-party dispute settlement or any solution imposed on China.'
Cognizant of China's firm stance on the issue, Perfecto R. Yasay, Jr., the newly appointed Secretary of Foreign Affairs by the newly installed administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, expressed the Philippine government's caution not to make provocative reactions on the ruling, arguing for the new Philippine administration to rely on China's goodwill. In a press conference in Manila, Yasay underscored, 'There is always a possibility that China might take more aggressive action insofar as its reaction to the decision of the arbitral tribunal, especially as it would be in favor with the Philippines. While we say this as a matter of possibility, there is also the equal possibility that China will not because it has assured us of its relationship of goodwill with us.'"
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