PHL to continue to traverse legal track vis-a-vis issues with China

Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Photo

MANILA — A Palace spokesperson on Saturday said the Philippine government will continue to use the legal path in fighting China for its right over some islands at the West Philippine Sea.

In an interview over state radio station DZRB, Deputy Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Aquino government would pursue the adoption of peaceful means in its maritime dispute with China.

“We have adopted the peaceful track. We have committed to pursuing our cause through recognized fora, and that we continue to adopt the rules-based approach,” she said.

Valte said they would continue to follow all legal ways based on international law, and this, she pointed out, has attracted the support of other countries.

Recently, US President Barack Obama has called on China to stop bullying the Philippines and Vietnam, which also has maritime issues with the world’s second largest economy.

Also, Senator Bongbong Marcos has suggested that the Philippines enter a multilateral agreement with China among others to thresh out the issue.

Valte said any moves to address the issue with China would be through diplomatic ways.

“We are committed to sticking to the path that government has decided to take. So, again, we are exhausting… We are taking the diplomatic track, we are taking the legal track to address our issue in this particular case,” she said.