The Philippine Government has formally invited the Chinese Government to settle the territorial dispute involving the Spratly's Islands in the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) which is the official body that is adopted by the United Nations to resolve issues involving the use of the seas and exploitation of seabed resources.
" According to the 1982 International Law of the Sea Treaty, each nation's territorial waters extend 12 nautical miles from its coast. All foreign vessels, however, are allowed the right of "Innocent Passage" in this zone - that is, passage that does not in any way pose a threat to the nation's security. Beyond the 12 mile limit, all ships and planes, military or commercial, including submarines, can travel freely.
The treaty gives each coastal nation exclusive rights to the fish and other marine life in a zone, called the exclusive economic zone, stretching 200 nautical miles from its shores. Countries separated by a body of water less than 400 nautical miles wide must establish a dividing line for their respective zones through negotiation. Under the treaty, each nation has the exclusive rights to the oil, natural gas and other resources in the continental shelf, which may extend up to 350 miles beyond the coast.
Disputes involving nations or individual companies under the treaty are to be settled in nearly all cases by a new (it was a newly crated court in 1982) International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), by arbitration, or by the International Court of Justice at The Hague." - Source: Encarta Premium.
So there it is, it's crystal clear! The Spratly's Islands dispute can be easily resolved if China agrees to submit the problem to the ITLOS. It is now understandable why China doesn't want the ITLOS to settle the argument, it's because a claim based on HISTORICAL REASONS is not recognized by the International Tribunal, therefore they will surely lose their right to the Spratly's islands as long as the islets are within the 200 nautical miles from the Philippine shores.
Now we all know who has the right to the Scarborough Shoal and the other islets within the 200 nautical mile limit. It's us Pinoys! So enough talk about historical rights and claims okay? The United Nations doesn't accept that crap, plain and simple. Now can we all go out and eat siomai and siopao without fighting whether to order asado or bola-bola flavor? :)
" According to the 1982 International Law of the Sea Treaty, each nation's territorial waters extend 12 nautical miles from its coast. All foreign vessels, however, are allowed the right of "Innocent Passage" in this zone - that is, passage that does not in any way pose a threat to the nation's security. Beyond the 12 mile limit, all ships and planes, military or commercial, including submarines, can travel freely.
The treaty gives each coastal nation exclusive rights to the fish and other marine life in a zone, called the exclusive economic zone, stretching 200 nautical miles from its shores. Countries separated by a body of water less than 400 nautical miles wide must establish a dividing line for their respective zones through negotiation. Under the treaty, each nation has the exclusive rights to the oil, natural gas and other resources in the continental shelf, which may extend up to 350 miles beyond the coast.
Disputes involving nations or individual companies under the treaty are to be settled in nearly all cases by a new (it was a newly crated court in 1982) International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), by arbitration, or by the International Court of Justice at The Hague." - Source: Encarta Premium.
So there it is, it's crystal clear! The Spratly's Islands dispute can be easily resolved if China agrees to submit the problem to the ITLOS. It is now understandable why China doesn't want the ITLOS to settle the argument, it's because a claim based on HISTORICAL REASONS is not recognized by the International Tribunal, therefore they will surely lose their right to the Spratly's islands as long as the islets are within the 200 nautical miles from the Philippine shores.
Now we all know who has the right to the Scarborough Shoal and the other islets within the 200 nautical mile limit. It's us Pinoys! So enough talk about historical rights and claims okay? The United Nations doesn't accept that crap, plain and simple. Now can we all go out and eat siomai and siopao without fighting whether to order asado or bola-bola flavor? :)
It is proven and common knowledge that the Chinese do not observe or respect the laws or the rules nor the etiquettes of the place they reside or do business.
ReplyDeleteI agree but the Spratly's Islands issue cannot be resolved by violent means, China is a very powerful nation we all must admit that and its military might can easily blow our antiquated Navy ships and warplanes out of those waters.
ReplyDeleteBut in these modern and civilized times, is it still an acceptable approach to senselessly and mercilessly kill others for a piece of land or islets? No matter how oil and gas rich that area is, it's not worth killing for.
That's why all claimant nations should submit to the ITLOS their claims and eventually abide and respect its ruling...We are all civilized nations so let's all act accordingly.
Thanks for your comment, it just shows that Pinoys are humble and decent but sometimes we get pissed off too when pushed to our limits. :)
Cool! Now pack all your things and get out from our territory China! haha.. Spratly sslands and the other that you are claiming are ours!
ReplyDelete