Scarborough Shoal Standoff: DFA secretary releases statement

Scarborough Shoal Map

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario has released a statement regarding the Scarborough Shoal dispute between the Philippines and China.

Del Rosario said that the conflict should be brought to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).

"The whole world knows that China has myriad more ships and aircraft than the Philippines," he said in a statement released on Tuesday. "At day’s end, however, we hope to demonstrate that international law would be the great equalizer."

The official continued: "The purpose of the exercise will be to ascertain which of us has sovereign rights over the waters surrounding Scarborough Shoal where Chinese ships are currently engaging in illegal activities within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)."

Tension heightened between the two countries last week following the deployment of Philippine Navy's BRP Gregorio del Pilar to the Scarborough Shoal in an attempt to deter Chinese boats from fishing in the area. China then sent two surveillance vessels and prevented the BRP Gregorio del Pilar from arresting the Chinese fishermen.

The Chinese boats and the Philippine war ship left the area at the weekend.

Like NoypiStuff on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Noypistuff/117502194997452