PH mulls filing case vs China before UN body over sea collision

The Manila Times

PH mulls filing case vs China before UN body over sea collision  The Philippine government is considering filing a case against China before a United Nations body following the Chinese Coast Guard's 'unprofessional and dangerous" acts that damaged Philippine vessels near the Escoda Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, says National Maritime Council spokesman Alexander Lopez. At a Palace press conference on Aug. 20, 2024, Lopez said that such actions by Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels violated international law, including United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 1972 Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea. 'The Philippines will continue to uphold its rights and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea; sustain our routine maritime activities; and protect its territory and maritime zones from environmental degradation and other illegal activities," he said.   Video By Catherine Valente   Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe    Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net     Follow us:  Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook  Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram  Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter  DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion    Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital    Check out our Podcasts:  Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify  Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts  Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic  Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer  Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein   #TheManilaTimes #TMTNews  #China #Philippines #UnitedNations #CoastGuard

Transcript

00:00...at another body beyond the usual filing of diplomatic testimonies.

00:06We are looking at that, especially at the part of the postcard because they know more of how to go about it.

00:13Maybe we'll get back to you later on as long as we get more inputs from the postcard.

00:18The Philippines and China have agreed earlier that we have open communication lines.

00:23Kasama ba dito yung part na mag-imimit ni President si President Xi Jinping para to prevent such escalation sa South China Sea?

00:30We don't have that information yet.

00:33Well, you're right in saying that we have to have means of communicating.

00:40In fact, there are mechanisms that are being practiced by foreign affairs and their counterpart to discuss these issues.

00:49And that's why we have this provisional understanding.

00:54As to the meeting, we don't have any information yet.

00:59Sir, what different bodies are you looking at when you said you would consider filing these?

01:03So what are the options that are being considered?

01:06Well, I would suppose that there are United Nations bodies.

01:11Any UN agencies in particular?

01:15I would think that the DFA would be the appropriate agency to answer that.

01:20Sir, you mentioned kasi it's a matter of procedure that we file a diplomatic protest at the DFA level.

01:28And you also mentioned in your statement earlier that kinetic actions will not do any good to the country, China and the region.

01:36So in between a protest and kinetic actions, what are the policy options that are available to put China in line?

01:44So that the tensions will be managed better and the activities that we saw yesterday will not happen again?

01:54Well, in so far as specific activities, basta ang guideline doon, things that would not lead to escalation of the dispute.

02:04So we will allow after it's the purview of the Department of Foreign Affairs to really come up with those.

02:11Kasi other agencies may come up with proposed activities.

02:16But if the DFA says no, it is contrary to the Code of Canada, then maybe that's when the DFA will come in.

02:24Sir, na-mention niyo kanina yung COVIDs.

02:29The actions of the Chinese Coast Guards are a blatant violation of the COVIDs.

02:35Is there a body that we can elevate this matter further for that body to specifically sanction or at least condemn yung actions ng Chinese Coast Guards?

02:48For that body, I do not have that specific right now. Kasi it's in the purview of the Coast Guard.

02:54Kasi they are the ones, they have a channel of communicating such infringes or violations of international law, particularly the cold reg.

03:06Kasi just to talk about something about the cold reg.

03:10It is actually a code of conduct among seapayers.

03:16The principle behind it is to ensure safety among vessels of the high seas especially.

03:26Para hindi sila magkabububuhan.

03:29But what happened is sila pa yung...

03:40Thank you for watching!

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