THE proponent of the arbitration case filed by the Philippines against China to resolve the territorial dispute in the South China Sea on Friday said he would nominate US President Barack Obama for the highest civil award being given by the Philippine government strongly supporting the enforcement of the verdict issued by the United Nations’ Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA).
Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio said Obama should be named ‘Defender of the West Philippine Sea” for his statements during the recent Asean Leaders Summit in Lao PDR, where he told China to comply with the arbitration court’s ruling in favor of the Philippines.
“For telling China to comply with the arbitral ruling, I nominate Obama for the highest Philippine award and to name him Defender of the West Philippine Sea,” Carpio told the BusinessMirror.
According to Executive Order 236 issued in 2003, the highest civil award that the Philippine government can give to a foreigner is the Order of Lakandula, “for deeds worthy of particular recognition, including suffering materially for the preservation and defense of the democratic way of life and of the territorial integrity of the Republic of the Philippines, for devoting his life to the peaceful resolution of conflict, or for demonstrating an outstanding dedication to the fostering of mutual understanding, cultural exchange, justice and dignified relations among individuals,” among others.
In his speech before Asean Leaders in Laos, Obama asserted that China’s claims of sovereignty over the South China Sea had no legal basis, and that the ruling of the PCA was “binding,” even on China, which has refused to acknowledge the international court’s jurisdiction.
On July 12 the PCA issued its ruling in favor of the Philippines in the arbitration case, which Carpio had pursued to be filed since the 1990s but was only given the go-signal for filing during the Aquino administration.
In its ruling, the PCA invalidated China’s sweeping claims over the South China Sea, as reflected by its overarching “nine-dash” line. The ruling said “none of the features claimed by China was capable of generating an exclusive economic zone.”
Obama welcomed the ruling and asserted that it was binding, even on China, which refused to take part in the proceedings at the PCA.
“The landmark arbitration ruling in July, which is binding, helped clarify maritime rights in the region,” Obama said.
“I recognize this raises tensions but I also look forward to discussing how we can constructively move forward together to lower tensions and promote diplomacy and stability,” he added.
Image credits: AP