MANILA, Philippines – HINDI kailanman magiging ‘promotor’ ng gulo ang Pilipinas sa South China Sea sa kabila ng paulit-ulit na paglabag ng Tsina sa soberanya nito.
Ang pangako ni Manila’s envoy to Washington, Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez, palaging gagamit ang Pilipinas ng diplomasya at dayalogo sa kabila ng pagiging frontline para depensahan ang rules-based international order sa tinatawag na ‘heavily-disputed waterway.’
Si Romualdez ay Manila’s ambassador to the United States, pangunahing supporter at defender ng Pilipinas laban sa agresyon na naranasan nito mula sa Tsina sa South China Sea.
Sa kabilang dako, sa komperensiya na inorganisa ng Stratbase ADR Institute, araw ng Miyerkules, Nobyembre 6, inilatag ni Romualdez ang limang dahilan kung bakit ang Pilipinas ay malabong pagmulan ng gulo o manulsol ng tensiyon sa katubigan.
“First, the Philippines has always remained proactive in its engagements, particularly with China, and continues to keep its channels open,” ayon kay Romualdez sabay sabing “That was actually the reason why an understanding on the principles and approaches for the conduct of rotation and resupply missions, which had been the source of escalating tension between the two sides in the past, was reached. The Philippines is also active in engaging with regional partners, particularly with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).”
“We maintain regional engagement to the ASEAN and remain engaged in strengthening partnerships with the other claimant states in the context of the Code of Conduct of the COC negotiations and through bilateral engagements. We are committed to the process of concluding a substantive and effective COC,” ang sinabi pa rin ni Romualdez.
Ang pangatlo at pangapat na paraan aniya ay sa pamamagitan ng alyansa ng Pilipinas sa like-minded countries at sa pamamagitan ng pagsasagawa ng ‘maritime dialogues at cooperation.’
Sa pamamagitan aniya ng alyansa, sinabi ni Romualdez na kinikilala ng Pilipinas ang kahalagahan ng multilateralism para palakasin ang partnership; at sa pamamagitan ng dayalogo, magagawa ng bansa na palawigin ang mekanismo mula sa political consultations.
“Fifth, through advancing [United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea] and the rule of law in global ocean management, we seek to broaden the acknowledgement of the Arbitral Award and the Philippines’ position by advancing the rule of law and underscoring the primacy of UNCLOS as a comprehensive legal framework for law and order in the seas and the management of issues and challenges in the oceans,” ang winika pa rin ni Romualdez.
“And finally, through public diplomacy and awareness efforts, we pursue broad public diplomacy and awareness efforts, mindful that domestic support is the fuel that propels our actions forward,” ang sinabi pa rin ni Romualdez. Kris Jose
