Former envoy says using sea ruling as basis for talks with China will be counter-productive
(From ABS-CBN News)
The Philippines should not flaunt its landmark victory in international court and instead focus on convincing China to allow unimpeded access to fishing in the Scarborough Shoal, Manila’s former envoy to the United Nations said Friday.
Emotions still run high in China after the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that its claims to almost the entire South China Sea had no legal basis and using the ruling as basis for talks with Beijing will be “counter-productive,” said former Ambassador Lauro Baja.
The tribunal based in The Hague ruled that Manila had the right to exploit resources within its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone, portions of which are controlled by Beijing.
President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday asked former President Fidel Ramos to lead the bilateral talks with China. Read More