PHILIPPINE AMBASSADOR PRESENTS THE WEST PHILIPPINE SEA ISSUE AT NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF LA PLATA –

INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (UNLP-IRI)

Ambassador Ma. Amelita C. Aquino with Professor Ezequiel Ramoneda of UNLP-IRI

The Philippine Embassy in Argentina presented the Philippine position on the West Philippine Issue in an academic session organized by the UNLP - Institute of International Relations, as one of the activities during the Congress of IRI, Latin America Federation for International Studies and the Federal Council for International Studies on 27 November 2014.

Ambassador Ma. Amelita C. Aquino, Vietnam Ambassador Nguyen Dinh Thao, Professor Maya Alvisa of the Universidad del Salvador and Mr. Rodolfo Kramer of the MERCOSUR-ASEAN Chamber of Commerce were the guest speakers during the session. Professor Ezequiel Ramoneda of UNLP IRI served as the moderator during the event.

In her presentation, Ambassador Aquino emphasized that the core issue of the dispute is China’s claim of “indisputable sovereignty” over nearly all of the South China Sea under its nine-dash line, pointing out that this encroaches on the Philippine’s Exclusive Economic Zone and extended continental shelf.

She further explained that the Philippines had undertaken many efforts to peacefully engage China and settle the disputes through political and diplomatic avenues but with the occupation by China of Scarborough Shoal, the Philippines had no other recourse but to utilize the legal track under UNCLOS. She then explained the arbitral proceedings initiated by the Philippines and the Philippines’ Triple Action Plan proposal.

The audience was comprised of members of the academe, students and researchers.