17 October 2014 – The Philippines further intensified calls on the international community to support the implementation of the “Triple Action Plan” (TAP) that prescribes specific steps for the peaceful resolution of the maritime disputes in the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea.

In a letter sent to the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General and circulated to 193 Member States of the UN,  the Philippines outlined the TAP and called on the international community to support steps for a peaceful resolution of maritime disputes.

Philippine Permanent Representative Libran N. Cabactulan,  in a statement delivered before the Sixth Committee on agenda item The Rule of Law at the National and International Levels, further underscored the TAP as “a positive, comprehensive and constructive framework, which brings together various initiatives that the Philippines and other countries have been advocating for the peaceful resolution of the disputes.”

“Our proposed Triple Action Plan contains immediate, intermediate and final approaches to address the provocative and destabilizing activities in the South China Sea. They can all be pursued simultaneously, without prejudice to territorial claims,” Ambassador Cabactulan stressed.

As an immediate approach, the TAP calls for the cessation of specific activities that escalate tensions, pursuant to paragraph 5 of the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), including inhabiting uninhabited features and massive reclamation.

As an intermediate approach,the TAP highlights the need for the full and effective implementation of the DOC and the expeditious conclusion of the Code of Conduct (COC) in order to manage tensions until a final resolution is achieved.

As a final approach, the TAP underscores the need for a peaceful settlement mechanism to bring the disputes to a final and enduring resolution on the basis of international law.

For the Philippines, this final mechanism is arbitration which offers an open, friendly, and durable dispute settlement mechanism that will clarify maritime entitlements and therefore leads to genuine and lasting peace in the South China Sea.

In his statement, Ambassador Cabactulan also reiterated the Philippines’ support for the Secretary-General’s call for States Parties to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to clearly define and publicize the limits of their respective maritime zones so that other States Parties will have greater certainty on their maritime spaces.

“The Rule of Law anchors the predictability and stability of national and international development and progress. It allows for an environment of peace and security to flourish. Let it not be said that some States, by reason of their size, power and might, are exempt from the rule of law,” he said. END