‘Suspicious’

“Participation in such dialogue on top of the bilateral talks shows the government is taking a multi-faceted approach, maximizing available tools to advance the country’s position and interests,” Pitlo said.

Pitlo pointed out the tentative fishing agreement that allowed Filipino fishermen to re-access their traditional fishing ground in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) and the renewed talks for joint exploration in the Recto (Reed) Bank are both steps toward implementing the award.

The decision of the Haguebased arbitral tribunal on July 12, 2016 declares Bajo de Masinloc a traditional fishing ground for Filipinos, Chinese and Vietnamese.

Pitlo said that while the ruling affirmed the Philippines’ sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone, it did not make a determination on the ownership of contested features.

“The description by its very nature suggests the possibility of a fishing agreement between the sovereign parties, which would be a feasible way to reduce tensions,” he said.

Joint exploration

Pitlo added the 60-40 revenue sharing on the proposed joint oil exploration with China presents a “viable and easily implementable avenue” to pursue resource cooperation in the West Philippine Sea.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano had said the administration is working on a framework for possible oil exploration with China where companies can work on a commercial level without damaging the country’s claims.

Cayetano gave assurance the framework would not go beyond the 60-40 sharing of revenues as provided by the 1987 Constitution.

Pitlo noted the arbitral ruling did not prevent cooperation on oil and gas extraction in the seabed.

“The affirmation of the Philippines’ sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone limits cooperation to certain areas but does not prevent it entirely,” he said.

Pitlo said Duterte does not see merit in pressuring Beijing to comply with the international court ruling through multilateral means.

He said the President saw the inability of the US security alliance and the international community to prevent China from building its artificial islands during the course of arbitration.

“Instead of pressuring and being rebuffed, his government is making headway in subtly implementing significant portions of the award, specifically on resource access,” Pitlo said.

He said Duterte saw the ruling as a means to advance Philippine interests in the West Philippine Sea while keeping a stable external environment.

“The award was used as a leverage in dealing with China, enabling Manila to get tremendous economic concessions. In the meantime, cooperation has provided a cover for implementing the award without critics realizing it,” Pitlo said.

Follow the ruling

A senior US State Department official said all claimant countries in the South China Sea should recognize the tribunal ruling in favor of the Philippines.

“There is an international law to follow on this and we have arbitral decision on July 12, 2016 that define a lot of what goes on in that region. All claimants should live up to that,” said Walter Douglas, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State.

Douglas said China should follow on its commitment not to militarize the region.

“And our belief is also that China and President Xi Jinping in 2015 talked about not militarizing the region. I think that’s a pretty good guideline to have and we ask him to follow what he spoke about,” Douglas said.

“And so in all that what we think there’s a way to look at this region and it’s up to everybody to follow that.”

Douglas stressed the US is “not going away” as he emphasized the significance of recognition of its role in the region amid China’s increasing presence.

“We’re not gonna change that. We’re not going away. So what’s important is that our role be recognized that we’re here,” Douglas told reporters on Wednesday during his visit to Manila.