Idinaan sa UNCLOS anniversary: DFA, binigyang diin ang ‘mapayapang pag-aayos’ sa mga pinagtatalunan, hindi pagkakasundo

SA pagdiriwang ng ika-42 taong anibersaryo ng adopsyon United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), muling pinagtibay ng Department of the Philippines (DFA) ang paniniwala nito sa mapayapang pamamaraan sa pag-aayos ng gusot, at ang rule of law, at rules-based international order.

Sa isang kalatas, sinabi ng DFA na ipinapakita ng Pilipinas ang commitment nito sa UNCLOS, kinokonsidera bilang Konstitusyon ng karagatan, sa pamamagitan ng pagsasabatas ng Philippine Baselines Act, Philippine Maritime Zones Act, at Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act.

“As it upholds its lawful claim to its maritime entitlements, the Philippines has continued to engage coastal neighbors through discussions on the delimitation of the exclusive economic zone, the continental shelf, and the extended continental shelf, measured from lawfully-drawn baselines where these maritime zones may overlap,” ayon sa departamento.

“This readiness to engage fully within the parameters set by UNCLOS is a testament to our unwavering belief in the peaceful means of settling disputes, and the rule of law and the rules-based international order,” dagdag na wika ng DFA.

Tinuran pa ng departamento na sumusunod ito sa dispute resolution mechanisms ng UNCLOS sa pamamagitan ng 2016 South China Sea Arbitration, “underscoring that claims exceeding geographic and substantive limits of maritime entitlements under UNCLOS are without legal effect.”

“We continue to call for compliance with the 2016 Arbitral Award and we appreciate the growing acknowledgement of the Award as an unassailable part of the corpus of international law,” ayon sa DFA.

Sinabi pa ng DFA patuloy na paninindigan ng Pilipinas ang mga probisyon at prinsipyo na nakapaloob sa UNCLOS para i-promote ang national interest at ang aspirasyon para sa kapayapaan at kasagaan ng mga tao.

“Just as we played an indelible role in advancing the archipelagic doctrine, we will continue to build upon our significant footprint in enriching the law of the sea, through its three implementing agreements including the BBNJ Agreement, and by taking an active role in deepening collaboration with countries and organizations that is anchored on common interests in ocean protection, conservation, management and governance,” ang pahayag ng departamento. (Daris Jose)