Pres. Aquino to highlight West Philippine Sea issue during U.S. visit

President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his departure statement during the send-off ceremony at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal II on Saturday (September 13, 2014). The President is embarking on a four-nation official tour of Europe from September 13 to 20, his first to the region since he assumed office in 2010, to pitch for investments and support for the Philippine position to resolve the conflict in the West Philippine Sea. The President will first visit Spain, then proceed to Belgium, France and Germany for two days each. In New York City, President Aquino will highlight the country’s vulnerability to weather disturbances as well as the Philippine government’s initiatives in addressing climate change when he attends the Climate Summit 2014 in New York on September 23. (Photo by Lauro Montellano Jr. / Malacañang Photo Bureau)

MANILA — President Benigno S. Aquino III will advance the country’s interest in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) when he meets with global leaders and organizations while in the United States on September 20 to 24, a foreign affairs official said during a press briefing at the Palace on Tuesday.

Asked if the President will talk about the West Philippine Sea at the World Leaders Forum in Columbia University, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Maria Andrelita Austria said, “That is one of the advocacies that he will be carrying in all his meetings, basically, to say why it is important for the world community to support our endeavor in ensuring that the rule of law is carried specifically in the West Philippine Sea.”

The Philippines is one of several countries laying claim to the West Philippine Sea, an area believed to be rich in mineral and fishery resources and which serves as a major sea lane for global trade and commerce.

The country has filed an arbitration case at the International Arbitral Tribunal, asking China to clarify its claims on the West Philippine Sea.

Asked about the possibility of a meeting between President Aquino and US President Barack Obama, as well as other leaders, Austria said no such meeting has been arranged but it is possible that they meet at the corridors of the United Nations Headquarters.

The practice in the UN is that leaders come and deliver their remarks, she said.

“As of now, there are no arranged meetings. But, of course, there’s always the possibility of chance meetings when they meet each other in the corridors of the UN,” Austria said.