China again rejects the Hague ruling, cites ‘agreement’ with Duterte to ‘close the old chapter’

MANILA – China reiterated on Friday that it does not recognize the 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidates its claim for a 9-dash line over almost the entire South China Sea, a legal victory that President Rodrigo Duterte invoked in his landmark speech to the General Assembly of the United Nations on Wednesday.

The July 2016 decision on the arbitration case of the Permanent Court of Arbitration based in The Hague recognized the sovereign rights of the Philippines in its exclusive economic zone in resource-rich waters, which China claims almost entirely.

“The award is now part of international law, beyond compromise and beyond the reach of governments in approval to dilute, diminish or abandon it. We firmly reject attempts to undermine it,” Duterte said, thanking other countries that support the ruling. .

But in a virtual forum organized by the Association for the Philippines-China Understanding Inc. (APCU), the Chinese ambassador to the Philippines, Huang Xilian, cited the “consensus” supposedly reached between Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping to archive the maritime disputes. and manage the situation through dialogue and cooperation.

“China’s position on the so-called arbitration ruling has been very clear: we do not accept and we do not recognize this alleged ruling. Our two presidents have agreed that we should close the previous chapter and file the differences,” he added. Huang said.

Beijing has continued to ignore the ruling as Duterte sought closer ties with the economic giant for his administration’s infrastructure projects. Recently, Duterte also expressed his expectation that China would give the Philippines access to the COVID-19 vaccine it was developing.

Huang said the consensus of both leaders to “put aside” maritime disputes and handle the situation through bilateral consultations must be “vigorously implemented by both sides” so that the “strong momentum of our relations as milestones for the way forward. and improved. “

Huang said that dialogue mechanisms such as the bilateral consultation mechanism (BCM) are “working well to manage differences and explore practical cooperation” and that China is “committed to speeding up” consultations on a code of conduct (COC) between ASEAN and China as a way to promote peace and stability.

Earlier, Professor Jay Batongbacal, director of the Institute of Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea at the University of the Philippines, said he believed that Beijing’s continued and growing aggression in the disputed South China Sea over the past year may be the reason why the one that the president presented the award to the international community.

Huang said outside powers should not be allowed to derail the Philippine-China relations, as he asserted that the countries “enjoy the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea in accordance with international law.”

He also rejected “misleading accusations” about China’s so-called “debt trap”.

“In fact, there was no evidence that Chinese projects threaten Philippine security. In fact, these projects are contributing to the construction of their country,” Huang clarified.

Critics have said the Philippines has signed onerous deals with China, and former Chief Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Antonio Carpio has warned that Beijing could seize natural gas deposits at the Reed Bank (Recto Bank) in the disputed waters if Manila does not can repay the $ 62 million Chinese loans for the Rio Chico Irrigation Loan Agreement.

Carpio is a longtime defender of Philippine sovereignty and a vocal critic of what he calls a “progressive invasion” of China.