PH Ambassador Presents Philippine Position on the West Philippine Sea

Ambassador Ma. Amelita C. Aquino, along with the Ambassadors of Vietnam and Indonesia were among the speakers during an academic forum entitled ¨Management of Maritime Spaces in the ASEAN, Ideas for Argentina¨” held at the Universidad Abierta Interamericana in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The forum opened with an introduction on the situation in southeast Asia and the South China Sea issue by Professors Juan Manuel Pippia and Ezequiel Ramoneda, followed by presentations by the Ambassadors on the respective positions of their countries on the South China Sea issue.

Ambassador Aquino gave a brief background on the Philippine claim, the issue of China’s 9-dash line and the steps taken by the Philippines to resolve the conflict. The Ambassador explained the Philippine recourse to arbitration under UNCLOS and the developments on the case.

To end the presentation, Ambassador Aquino showed some maps taken from the Institute of Maritime and Ocean Affairs cartographic exhibit “Historical Truths and Lies, Scarborough Shoal in Ancient Maps” based on the lecture of Associate Justice Antonio Carpio.   She emphasized that while maps alone do not constitute right to title to a territory, the maps show the historical realities in the area.END.

Ambassador Aquino presents the Philippine position on the South China Sea issue

Ambassador Aquino (4^th from left) with the Ambassadors of Vietnam and Indonesa (1^st and 2^nd from left) and the other spearkers  and officials of Universidad Abierta Interamericana.