THE Philippines' historic legal win against China's claim of sovereignty over the disputed South China Sea could not be enforced yet, Malacañang said on Tuesday, November 20.
Asked whether this means that the ruling is useless, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said, "As of now, yes, for purpose of enforcement but psychologically, it benefits us because as far as the world is concerned, this is ours, not theirs,"
Panelo was referring to the July 2016 ruling of the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration against China's claims to most of the features of the disputed sea.
"The arbitral ruling cannot be taken away from us. It will be there forever. But meanwhile, who will enforce it? There is no power on earth presently that can enforce it. The United Nations cannot, the US cannot. Who will enforce it?" the Palace official told a press conference.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled on July 12, 2016 that China has no legal basis to claim historic rights within the resource-rich South China Sea.
President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly rejected the idea of bragging about the Philippines's landmark victory against China's claims to the contested waters. He said he will raise the ruling at the proper time.
Panelo's statement was issued on the day that Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Manila for a two-day state visit upon President Rodrigo Duterte's invitation.
Duterte and Xi are scheduled to meet on Tuesday afternoon at the Malacañan Palace, where the two are expected to hold bilateral and restricted meetings, and witness the signing of agreements.
Despite his latest remarks, Panelo assured that the Philippine government would not give up the arbitral court's ruling with regard to unresolved disputes in the South China Sea.
The Palace official, however, stressed that "persuasion" was the most effective way to convince China to resolve the long-standing disputes in the South China Sea with other sea claimants.
"Perhaps, you know, when you talk with the Chinese government, perhaps we can tell them that, 'We are supposed to be neighbors, that this particular area of conflict that we have now is given to us, to all of us, and we have to benefit from all of this,'" he said.
"In other words, perhaps, persuasion can be more successful and fruitful in getting what we want," Panelo added.
Panelo explained that the Duterte government would first try to hold bilateral talks with China to settle the sea disputes.
Asked if the current administration will give up the South China Sea ruling, Panelo said, "of course not."
He said Duterte could bring up the sea disputes during his meeting with Xi if the Philippine president wants to.
"He (Duterte) could raise it now [during his meeting with Xi]. I mean, that's his call," he said. "As I said, the ruling is there. You cannot disown it. Nobody can take it away from you. What the President is doing right now since it cannot be enforced it using another tact to get thing what he wants to get from them through negotiation."
Panelo added that the Duterte government would use "all modes" in resolving the disputes in the South China Sea, including possible "multilateral discussions" with nations that are willing to cooperate with the Philippines to pressure China.
"The administration will use all modes in solving the problem. Right now, if feels that bilateral talks with China will work. If that fails, then multilateral discussions would come in. As far as we are concerned right now, ;et's try bilateral talk first. Let's see how it goes, how far it will go," he said. (SunStar Philippines)