Philippine President brought South China Sea ruling to UN

In his first speech to the United Nations General Assembly since taking office, President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday denied what he called attempts to undermine the Philippines’ victory in the fifth ruling. 2016 in the South China Sea.

Duterte said his administration has remained committed to international settlements on disputes in the South China Sea, which it calls the Western Philippine Sea, according to ACB-CBN News.

He said: “The Philippines asserts that this engagement in the South China Sea is in accordance with UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and the 2016 Arbitration Award.

The 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling states that the Philippines has inviolable sovereignty rights over the South China Sea area, while rejecting China’s “nine-dash line” in this area.

“This ruling is now part of international law, it is not compromised and it is beyond the reach of governments to undermine or deny it. We strongly reject efforts to undermine it,” said Mr. Duterte.

Mr. Duterte also thanked other countries for supporting the decision.

“We welcome the growing number of nations, we support the verdict and what it represents: the victory of justice over indiscrimination, of law over confusion, of friendship over ambition. – as it should have been – is majesty. of the law “.

Duterte sought a warmer relationship with China under his rule and refused to enforce Phippines’ rights in the South China Sea in the context of China’s building structures on man-made islands there.

In his 2020 National Address, Duterte said it was “useless” to confront China’s territorial claim, adding that diplomatic relations with the world power must continue except for when the Philippines prepares to go to war.

According to SCMP, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has a history of criticism of the United Nations, so his first speech to the organization’s General Assembly is expected to be staggering.

And it is true that Mr. Rodrigo Duterte did not disappoint when he spoke of the South China Sea.

The complaint was filed with the United Nations by Mr. Duterte’s predecessor, Mr. Benigno Aquino III; and it is seen as a historic victory for the Philippines when the court affirmed China’s territorial claims, which Beijing marks on the map using a nine-dash line that covers most of the maritime territory. it’s unfounded.

China refused to participate in the arbitration process, rejected and continued to challenge this ruling.

However, Duterte, who came to power shortly after the verdict, was silent on the ruling to avoid offending Beijing. At the same time, he also spoke about the move away from his traditional ally, the United States, and towards China.

Retired Ambassador Lauro Baja, who served as the Philippines’ permanent representative to the United Nations and twice president of the UN Security Council, said the arbitrator’s ruling “should have been detailed. Three years ago” when the Philippines won. the case.

“It’s late now, but better late than never,” Baja told the South China Morning Post.