2016年CRI Former Foreign Officials Voice Support for China

 

Alberto Encomienda worked for ten years as the secretary-general of the Maritimes and Ocean Affairs Center of the Philippine Foreign Affairs Department.

The unilaterally-launched case was filed during his time in office.

He still thinks the nature of the dispute between China and the Philippines concerns territory, which is not subject to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

"The arbitration¹ is not about sovereignty. I think there is something artificially replaced by the Philippines. First, sovereignty rights are not sovereignty. We use it to solve everything? I don't think so."

Encomienda suggests dialogues based on the Declaration on the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea (DOC) is still the best option on the table.

The former Aquino government had claimed that it had tried everything to seek a solution through negotiations² with China, but all in vain.

However, Encomienda says the truth was not like that.

"If you look at the timeline, in January 2013 we filed the arbitration. From the view of a lawyer of international law, it's not possible for the Aquino government to have good research or good deliberation before his decision to file the arbitration."

Encomienda also refutes accusations³ against China's construction projects in the South China Sea, which countries like the United States and the Philippines have blamed for militarizing the region.

He admits the Philippines was indeed the first to build such facilities in the sea area.

"As we tried to enhance our control of the islands, we were the first to build an airfield⁴ there. Among all claimant countries, the Philippines was the first build an airfield.

Encomienda also blames the US' frequent show of muscle by sending aircraft carriers to the South China Sea.

He says what the US has done does no good to the regional stability, while its view on International Law reflects a hegemonic mindset.

"That law is basically for big powers. It's good if it's on their side. They will force small countries to follow the law. But when the law is against them, they change the rules."

Stapleton Roy was the US ambassador to China back in the early 1990s.

He also suggests talk is better than court in dealing⁵ with issues regarding territorial⁶ disputes.

"We don't believe the tribunal will take position on issues of sovereignty or defend the sea limits, which have to be done by bilateral⁷ negotiations rather than by the international tribunal independently functioning. So we will pay much attention to the ruling by the international court, but our view is that we hope the temperature to be lowered."

Wu Shicun with the National Institute of South China Sea Studies said the two sides should bear in mind a big picture and seek a joint⁸ development while putting aside disputes.

"It's not realistic to resolve it in a short span of time. The only solution is peaceful negotiations between the concerned parties, which has been proved effective in settling complicated demarcation issues. Before that, both sides could join hands to develop the area to build up mutual⁹ trust."

China has insisted the Hague-based tribunal has no say in the South China Sea dispute.

Instead, it advocates direct talks that involve nobody else.

The Chinese government says its suggestion is in line with a series of bilateral agreements and the DOC.

All of the documents stipulate¹⁰ the two sides resolve any dispute between themselves through bilateral negotiations.

1 arbitration   

n.调停，仲裁

参考例句：

• The wage disagreement is under arbitration.工资纠纷正在仲裁中。
• Both sides have agreed that the arbitration will be binding.双方都赞同仲裁具有约束力。

2 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

3 accusations   

n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名

参考例句：

• There were accusations of plagiarism. 曾有过关于剽窃的指控。
• He remained unruffled by their accusations. 对于他们的指控他处之泰然。

4 airfield   

n.飞机场

参考例句：

• The foreign guests were motored from the airfield to the hotel.用车把外宾从机场送到旅馆。
• The airfield was seized by enemy troops.机场被敌军占领。

5 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

6 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

7 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

8 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

9 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

10 stipulate   

vt.规定，（作为条件）讲定，保证

参考例句：

• International rules stipulate the number of foreign entrants.国际规则规定了外国参赛者的人数。
• Some manufacturers stipulate the price at which their goods are to be sold.有些制造商规定出售他们生产的商品的价格。