MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines should not give up on the West Philippine Sea dispute on account of the other side’s stubbornness, according to Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, who was one of the leads in the country’s case against China.
“A country cannot just fold up and give up just because the other side is stubborn. That is a childish mentality,” Carpio said.
“Getting a UN (United Nations) resolution in your country’s favor is already a huge victory because that means the world community is behind your country,” he added.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in 2016 nullified China’s old claims and upheld the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
President Duterte attacked Carpio for questioning his supposed silence on China’s activities in the Philippine EEZ and blamed the Aquino Administration for China’s occupation in the West Philippine Sea as it started during their time in office.
In response, former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, who served under former President Benigno Aquino III responsed and advised Duterte to “follow the recent initiative” of his officials in speaking out against China.
Del Rosario also played a big role in the Philippine success against China in the case it filed before the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
China has refused to honor the ruling as it did not acknowledge the Philippine case.
Reporting by: Marcus Perez