Philippines to urge China to respect PCA ruling at ASEM SummitThe Philippines on July 14 urged China to respect the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s (PCA) ruling that rejected Beijing’s sovereignty claims in the East Sea (South China Sea) and said it will raise the issue at the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit, scheduled for July 15-16 in Mongolia. China does not have historic rights over waters in the East Sea and any legal basis to announce statements on historic rights over natural resources within the nine-dash line. The PCA ruling also stressed that China has interfered with the traditional fishing rights of the Philippines in Scaborough Shoal, highlighting that China’s actions have worsen disputes between the country and the Philippines when efforts have been made to resolve the disputes. According to the PCA ruling on July 12, China’s claims to historic rights over sea areas falling within the nine-dash line are contrary to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). In a statement, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said Secretary Perfecto Yasay will attend the summit during which he will discuss the Philippines’ peaceful and rules-based approach to the East Sea issue and emphasise the need for the sides to respect the PCA’s recent ruling.

Source: VietNamNet News July 14, 2016 09:45 UTC