PH, Singapore call for peaceful resolution of SCS disputes

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

FILE: Satellite Picture of the South China Sea (Photo by Serg!o – Satellite pictures, from NASA World Wind Globe, version 1.4, Public Domain)

MANILA – The Philippines and Singapore on Thursday stressed the need to settle the long-standing disputes in the South China Sea (SCS) through peaceful negotiations.

The two nations’ position on the SCS issue was discussed during President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s bilateral meeting with Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at Malacañan Palace in Manila.

In a joint statement delivered at the President’s Hall of the Palace after his bilateral meeting with Shanmugaratnam, Marcos said a diplomatic approach would deescalate tensions in the SCS.

“Aside from bilateral issues, we also discussed regional issues of mutual interest. As geographical neighbors in Southeast Asia, the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea holds great importance to both our countries,” Marcos said.

“So, we look forward to the opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to maintain and to promote peace security and stability in the region, as well as our strong support for the peaceful resolution of any such disputes,” he added.

Shanmugaratnam said Singapore is consistent in upholding the rights of all states to freedom of navigation and overflight.

He also called for adherence to international law to ease tensions in the SCS.

“The South China Sea is an extremely important issue,” Shanmugaratnam said. “[Singapore] strongly supported the peaceful resolution of disputes, in accordance with the international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS. That’s fundamental. UNCLOS has to be the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas are carried out.”

The Philippines, China, and several other coastal states have overlapping territorial claims over the SCS.

China continues to reject the UNCLOS-based arbitration award insisting on its claims over the vast trade route, including the Philippines’ waters within the West Philippine Sea.