Philippines Highlights Significance of 2016 Arbitral Ruling at Parliamentary Hearing on Italy’s Indo-Pacific Strategy
ROME 26 July 2024 - The Philippines pitched for the 2016 Arbitral Ruling to be integrated into Italy’s Indo-Pacific strategy during a hearing of the Italian Parliament’s Sub-Committee on Foreign Policy for the Indo-Pacific. The hearing focused on the strategic projection of Italy and European countries in the Indo-Pacific region, as Italy formulates its own Indo-Pacific strategy.
Philippine Ambassador to Italy Neal Imperial was the sole ambassador invited to the latest hearing, as part of the fact-finding investigation of the larger Committee on Foreign and EU Affairs of the Chamber of Deputies that aims to establish the foundation on which to build a new strategy for Italy’s presence in the Indo-Pacific.
During the hearing, Ambassador Imperial highlighted the geostrategic importance of the Indo-Pacific region and the vital role of all stakeholders, especially Italy, in upholding the rule of law and a rules-based maritime order in the South China Sea (SCS)/West Philippine Sea (WPS) based on the UN Convention on the law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral award. The award, which was issued by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) on 12 July 2016, is the Philippines’ contribution to international law, and sets reason and right above the rule of might in the South China Sea.
"We welcome Italy’s interest in charting its own Indo-Pacific strategy. We expect Italy, as a major stakeholder in the Indo-Pacific, to support the rule of law and a rules-based order in our region," stated Ambassador Imperial. He also emphasized the Philippines' commitment to upholding international law and peaceful dispute resolution, with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award as the twin anchors of its positions and activities in the SCS.
Ambassador Imperial thanked and commended Italy for its consistent support to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific, and recognizing the 2016 Arbitral Award as legally binding through the G7 Apulia Leaders’ Communiqué issued on 14 June 2024, under Italy’s G7 presidency. He also highlighted Italy’s and the G7’s condemnation of China’s disturbing harassment of Philippines supply and coast guard vessels in its own maritime space.
As the two countries celebrate the 77th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Ambassador Imperial called for increased high-level visits, and closer defense and security relations between the Philippines and Italy. The Philippines is scheduled to host the second bilateral political consultations with Italy this year.
To conclude his intervention, Ambassador Imperial echoed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s recent statement at the Shangri-La Dialogue in May 2024 that the Philippines is not a mere pawn in a game between powers, but a reliable partner with full agency to ensure that a rules-based order is in place in the Indo-Pacific.
President Formentini, keenly aware that “tensions are high” in a “dangerous and risky” South China Sea, sympathized with the challenges faced by the Philippines despite the legal certainty of the 2016 Arbitral Award. He welcomed the timely and comprehensive interventions and said that he found them to be useful for the Sub-Committee’s efforts in formulating Italy’s Indo-Pacific strategy.
He pointed out that the sovereignty of coastal states should not be threatened, but the opposite is happening. He added that the deployment of the Italian aircraft carrier Cavour and naval vessel Morosini to South China Sea demonstrates Italy's commitment to strengthening diplomatic ties with Indo-Pacific countries and maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific. END