Carpio calls on Filipinos to unite | Global News

ҹ

Carpio calls on Filipinos to unite

By: - Reporter /
/ 05:03 AM July 23, 2016

Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio speaks during a forum of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (Focap) in a hotel in Makati City on Friday. ESTRELLA TORRES

Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio speaks during a forum of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (Focap) in a hotel in Makati City on Friday. ESTRELLA TORRES

LAST week’s arbitral tribunal ruling in favor of the Philippines should unite Filipinos in getting the world to convince China to accept the decision that invalidated its claims to almost all of the South China Sea,  Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said on Friday.

Carpio, who has done an extensive study on the South China Sea dispute, said the Philippines and China should negotiate a fisheries agreement in the contested waters, including Panatag Shoal, internationally known as Scarborough Shoal, which the arbitral tribunal declared within the Philippines’ 370-kilometer exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Article continues after this advertisement

Panatag remains disputed

FEATURED STORIES

“[Panatag Shoal] and its territory remain in dispute” because the tribunal ruled only on maritime and not on territorial claims, Carpio told the Trident Defense Forum on the South China Sea held at Solaire Resort and Casino in Parañaque City.

“We have to sit down with China to set protocols and operationalize [Panatag Shoal] as a fishing ground,” he said.

Article continues after this advertisement

Carpio said he believed China would agree on bilaterial negotiations on a common fishing ground because “it’s a face-saving and win-win solution.”

Article continues after this advertisement

The Philippines, he said, lost its claims to three of seven reefs occupied by China—Gavin (Gaven), McKennan (Hughes) and Mabini (Johnson South) reefs—that could be the subjects of negotiations for a fisheries agreement.

Article continues after this advertisement

Exclusive to PH

But it would be difficult to include in the talks the reefs that the tribunal declared well within the Philippines’ EEZ, like Recto Bank (Reed Bank) and Panganiban Reef (Mischief Reef), as the Constitution provides that Filipinos have exclusive rights to exploit and enjoy the resources within the country’s territory, he said.

Article continues after this advertisement

“If we are to negotiate with China on islands within our EEZ, these will have to be recognized as ours,” Carpio said in an interview with the Inquirer after the forum.

He said the Philippines and China could proceed with bilateral negotiations “without conditions on recognizing both arbitration award and nine-dash-line claim,” he said.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the and acknowledge that I have read the .

Nine-dash line refers to China’s claim to 90 percent of the 3.5-million-square-kilometer South China Sea that the arbitral tribunal ruled has no legal basis.

For comprehensive coverage, in-depth analysis, visit our special page for . Stay informed with articles, videos, and expert opinions.

EDITORS' PICK
MOST READ
newsinfo
newsinfo
newsinfo
www
newsinfo
sports
www
newsinfo
entertainment
newsinfo
newsinfo
newsinfo
TAGS: Antonio Carpio, tribunal ruling, West Philippine Sea

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the and acknowledge that I have read the .

© Copyright 1997-2024 ҹ | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies.