Commentary: Philippines jeopardizes chance for cooperation with China

The Philippines is carelessly throwing away a chance offered by China to jointly solve the disputes over the South China Sea issue through dialogue and consultation, some analysts argue, as the Philippines has sought out the help of the international arbitration tribunal.

The Philippines's pursuit of such an arbitration is completely self-defeating, as Rod Kapunan, a columnist for Philippine newspaper The Standard, wrote in the daily on Saturday.

"We completely deprived ourselves of the opportunity once offered to us by China, like a joint cooperation to explore ... and develop the areas," he said in his article.

Submitting the case to the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) at The Hague was a lose-lose proposition, which "could only justify the permanent presence of U.S. forces in Philippine territory," he said, noting that the Aquino administration committed a serious offense by doing that.

The Philippine columnist's remarks do reflect some facts.

China has proposed the idea of shelving differences and seeking joint development as a way to solve the disputes over islands, rocks, shoals and other land features across the South China Sea.

China insists on properly solving the disputes in a peaceful way through direct dialogue and consultation with the related countries. China and the related countries, including the Philippines, have reached agreements and consensus in this regard, which could boost their direct negotiations.

If the Philippines insists on choosing arbitration, what Kapunan described as a "ticking bomb," to solve the issue, it will face the consequences, sweet or bitter.

China has announced its position of non-acceptance and non-participation in the arbitration unilaterally initiated by the Philippines.

China has reiterated that it has legitimate rights under international law to reject the arbitration, as the tribunal has no jurisdiction over the territorial claims to several islands, rocks, shoals and other land features across the South China Sea.

Meanwhile, Philippine President-elect Rodrigo Duterte once said during his presidential election campaign that he shares China's position, as he does not "believe in solving the conflict through an international tribunal."

"China has said it will not abide by whatever that tribunal's decision will be. That's the same case with me, especially if the ruling will be against the Philippines," Duterte told a press conference in Manila on April 7.

Duterte's remark indicates he may also reject a decision made by the arbitration tribunal, if the tribunal decides against the Philippines.

In that sense, any decision of the international tribunal will not be accepted unless the tribunal will make an unfair decision unilaterally favoring the Philippines, which will be frowned upon by those who truly abide by justice and law.

Thus, in fact, analysts say, there is no need for such a court to play any role or make a decision in settling the disputes between China and the Philippines.

Moreover, the Philippine columnist directly pointed out that the United States may benefit from the Philippines's move to file the arbitration.

In fact, since the Philippines unilaterally initiated an arbitration case against China in January 2013 over the issue with the PCA, some U.S. figures from the White House, the Congress, the Department of State and the military have voiced their support of the Philippines's move.

Obviously, some meddlers outside the region are trying to reap their own benefits from the disputes between China and the Philippines, although it is none of their business.

It is perplexing, even absurd, that the United States, which remains a non-signatory to the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) passed in 1982, is meddling in the disputes between two signatories to the convention.

The United States demands other countries respect the decisions of the UN court, but believes it is itself exempt from the rule of law.

Seeking recourse to international law when convenient and abandoning it in unfavorable conditions gravely undermines the authority, solemnity and effectiveness of international law, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lu Kang said.

"This is a dangerous act that the international community must heighten vigilance against," he said. Endi