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Defense Minister Delfin Lorenzana apologized to Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio and former Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert del Rosario for his recent remarks on the arbitral decision South China Sea conflict
The Defense Chief criticized the fact that the Arbitral Award of 12 July 2016 of the Permanent Court of Arbitration is an "empty victory" for the Philippines.
"I sincerely apologize to these two great gentlemen." Lorenzana added that his intention was not to denigrate the success of Carpio and Del Rosario arguing that the PCA in our favor is an empty victory, "said Lorenzana in a statement released on Friday … UN-backed court position.
" Premature, incomplete "
The secretary specified that his" victory It did not refer to the efforts of both, but rather to the outcome of the decision, which the Duterte administration had set aside in exchange for warmer ties with China
"With the realities of the field, the victory is premature and incomplete since the decision has no mechanism of execution.How can we claim victory over an arbitration case that took place even though the 39, another party refused to participate, having stated from the outset that She would not respect the outcome of the arbitration? Lorenzana also said that Carl Carpio "read" many "in the United States Free Navigational Operations (FONOPs) in the South China Sea as they do not conduct the operations to execute the arbitral award.
The United States and other countries conducted FONOPs in the disputed waterway. Before the arbitral award was made two years ago.
"In truth, these countries led FONOPS long before the CPA's decision was enacted and they will continue to do so with or without it to protect their own national interests." They maintained a free and unhindered passage. for their merchant and naval vessels across the SCS. "
He added that the historic decision will remain a" sheet of paper "until it is completely buried. Failure to inform the population of the actual situation on the ground with respect to the CPA's decision and to claim that it is a victory is unduly misleading, and echoing the Previous statements of Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, Lorenzana pointed out that the Philippines has lost any territory in the Western Philippines Sea (WPS) under the Duterte administration.
The nine islands under Philippine control prior to the Scarborough Shoal clash in 2012 are still occupied by Filipinos, he says.
"What the Chinese have actually recovered are artificial structures that did not exist before the 19459018 incident".
Justifying Duterte's policy toward China, Lorenzana said the president is using new relations with Beijing for the benefit of the Filipino people. Administrations differ in their approaches by pursuing the same national interest, caution dictates that diplomacy is always the best strategy to advance our country's interests in the WPS, "said the secretary. Del Rosario, who led the Philippines in arbitration against China, reiterated that the Duterte government should listen to the Filipinos and not the Chinese ambassador.
"In this fight for what is right and to defend against an unlawful aggressor who wants to demolish the law, raise tension and create chaos, we must trust our friends, our allies, and our friends. resilient spirit of the Filipino people, "said Del Rosario
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