US has no involvement in arbitration case vs China – Palace – Manila Bulletin #JHedzWorlD

US has no involvement in arbitration case vs China – Palace – Manila Bulletin #JHedzWorlD

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(FILE) — Filipino students hold anti-Chinese placards during a rally near Malacanang Palace in Manila on March 3, 2016, to denounce reported Chinese vessels dropping anchor near a South China Sea atoll also claimed by the Philippines.  AFP PHOTO / TED ALJIBE / AFP / TED ALJIBE

The United States has never been involved in the Philippines’ decision to pursue an arbitration case against China over the disputed territory in the South China Sea, a Palace official insisted on Sunday.

Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. explained that the US like other western nations merely declared support for the peaceful resolution to the territorial conflict and prevalence of rule of law.

“In our view, there is no basis for such allegation,” Coloma said in Filipino over government radio, when asked to comment on China’s allegation that Washington had intervened in the South China Sea arbitration process pending at an international tribunal in the Hague.

China earlier declared that the pending decision from the South China Sea conflict was a legal monstrosity and reeks of influence from the United States.

In a report by Xinhua, China’s Ambassador to the Netherlands Wu Ken said they will not accept an “invalid arbitral award” while insinuating the interference of Washington in the arbitration process. “How can a non-contracting State which selectively ignores the provisions of the Convention present itself as a judge for the Convention?” Wu asked.

Coloma, however, disputed the Chinese envoy’s suspicion on the US involvement in the SCS arbitration.

“In the country’s participation in international meetings such as ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) and US-ASEAN Special Summit called by President Obama last February, the position of the United States is clear — upholding respect for the rule of law and the laws governing the sea or UNCLOS (United Nations on Convention on the Law of the Sea),” he said.

“In all occasions, we have witnessed the United States have joined other countries in upholding the principles of freedom of navigation and freedom of flight,” he added.

On China’s allegation the arbitral tribunal was biased towards the Philippines, Coloma maintained that Manila is just trying to secure its  maritime entitlements in the West Philippine Sea through peaceful and rules-based means.

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US has no involvement in arbitration case vs China – Palace – Manila Bulletin #JHedzWorlD