The bully in the East

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor CHERYL CRUZ Desk Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The study presented by the United States government that confirms the claim of the Philippines in the South China Sea bolsters the hopes of our people for a decision in their favor by the international arbitral tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands.

The study, that has been published by the United States government, described the territorial claim of China over the area as not in accord with international law.

The Philippines had sought arbitration under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas, or UNCLOS, and its Department of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement that the factual accounts and analyses made by the U.S. government supports the Philippine position on the need for a clarification on the maritime entitlements in the South China Sea.

The DFA also pointed out that the recent studies by the United States support the literature on the responsibility of the UNCLOS for the settlement of maritime disputes.

China is now claiming almost the whole of the area, ignoring the claims of other countries such as Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines and even Japan, to parts of it in what has been viewed by those affected as bullying tactics by a large and highly populated, as well as wealthy country.

And, so far, it has refused to submit to arbitration, claiming it will resolve disputed “unilaterally or “bilaterally”, but has not taken any moves towards such resolutions.

After the Philippines had submitted its position giving its arguments against China’s claims, the tribunal in The Hague gave China until December 15 to present its counter claims.

But China has refused to participate in the proceedings and has ignored the deadline given.

How is the international community to deal with a country that refuses to go through the prescribed procedures of international law, and will only make its own rules, relying on its size, and its wealth to solve disputes in its favor?*