Philippines to bring Huangyan Island dispute to UN?

2012-09-18 08:100:34 GMT2012-09-18 16:100:34(Beijing Time)  SINA.com

By Mei Jingya, Sina English

The Foreign Ministry announced on September 16 that China has decided to submit its Partial Submission Concerning the Outer Limits of the Continental Shelf beyond 100 nautical miles in the East China Sea to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental shelf under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the sea (UNCLOS).

China’s move courted an unexpected response from another neighbor, the Philippines, which is closely watching development in the dispute between China and Japan over the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea.

When asked about China’s decision to submit its claim with Japan using the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said Monday, “We need to know the facts, after which we need to fully understand the issue. We are requesting our UN mission to obtain the necessary information.”

A Philippine official said if China resorts to UNCLOS in its dispute with Japan it should also “bolster the Philippines’ intension to settle territorial dispute with China by seeking help from international body,” according to a report on the Daily Inquirer on Tuesday.

He said Manila should, just as Beijing did with Japan, bring disputes with China on Huangyan Island and other islands in the South China Sea to UUCLOS as well.

Related news:

China: Renaming South China Sea changes nothing

Philippine renaming of South China Sea willful move

Taiwan rejects Philippines' renaming of South China Sea: report

Two Chinese nationals rescued from attempted kidnapping in S. Philippines