14 August 2014 - The Philippine Embassy in Argentina presented the Philippine position on the West Philippine Sea in an academic session organized by the Consejo Argentino para las Relaciones Internacionales – Argentine Council on International Relations (CARI) entitled “The situation in the South China Sea” on August 4. CARI is considered as Argentina’s top think tank on foreign policy and international affairs.  

Philippine Ambassador to Argentina Ma. Amelita C. Aquino, Vietnam Ambassador Nguyen Dinh and Institute of International Security and Strategic Affairs of CARI Director Julio A. Hang were the guest speakers during the session.  Ambassador Felipe Frydman, member of the Committee for Asian Affairs of CARI served as the moderator during the event.

In her presentation, Ambassador Aquino emphasized that the core issue of the dispute is China’s claim of “indisputable sovereignty” over nearly all of the South China Sea under its so-called nine-dash line, pointing out that this encroaches on the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone and extended continental shelf.

She further explained that the Philippines had undertaken many efforts to peacefully engage China and settle the disputes through political and diplomatic avenues but had to resort to arbitration under UNCLOS after these failed to produce mutually satisfactory results. She then explained the arbitral proceedings initiated by the Philippines.

Ambassador Aquino also stated that the Philippines will continue to work with ASEAN and China towards the full and effective implementation of the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and the expeditious conclusion of a legally binding Code of Conduct.

After the presentations, there was a short Q & A from the audience comprised of retired ambassadors, academes, students and researchers. END