New envoy backs putting ruling aside

Putting aside the arbitral ruling on the South China Sea should be a premise for possible talks between China and the Philippines, experts said after a former Philippine president was appointed as an envoy to China.

Fidel Ramos, 88, told reporters on Saturday that he accepted President Rodrigo Duterte’s offer to act as special envoy.

Beijing has insisted on direct negotiations over the South China Sea disputes and has refused to accept the recent ruling of an arbitration case unilaterally launched in 2013 by the Philippines.

Ramos is believed to be well-experienced in dealing with China-related issues, and during his time as president, from 1992 to 1998, the two countries eased tensions caused by confrontations over Meiji Reef.

According to a report by ABS-CBN, Duterte said he would pursue a “settlement” with China, even if this would mean setting aside the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, as suggested by Ramos.

China’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to Ramos’s remarks on Sunday. During a news conference on July 15, ministry spokesman Lu Kang said China welcomes Duterte sending an envoy to Beijing for talks on the South China Sea issue.

Li Guoqiang, a senior researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences’ Institute of Chinese Borderland Studies, said China is glad to see the Philippine new government has sent a positive signal of resolving disputes through peaceful and diplomatic means.

However, the Philippines should not use the arbitral ruling as a bargain chip during the negotiation because China will never accept it, he said.

Bilateral talks have been proved to be the most fair and reasonable means to resolve territorial issues, even though it may take a long time, Li added.

Wang Yuzhu, a senior researcher of Southeast Asia studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said only if the Philippines put aside the arbitral ruling will the two countries hold effective talks.

He said the Belt and Road Initiative, which China has proposed to revive the ancient Silk Road trading route, has benefited some Southeast Asian countries in improving infrastructure, and it’s an opportunity for the Philippines to enhance cooperation with China in such areas.