Daily Lessons from Life 10 April 2014 - Philippines using "moral suasion" vs China

H370 Updates - racing against time before the batteries that powered the black box goes dead after passing its standard 'expiry time of 30 days' the search parties discovered a 5th signal and hopes are raised that more wreckage may be found soon. Keeping my fingers crossed. Closure in sight?!

"Philippines using "moral suasion" vs China - AFP 10 April 2014

MANILA: The Philippines is using "moral suasion" in its conflict with Asian giant China over their claims to parts of the South China Sea, a government spokesman said Thursday.

This was why the Philippines filed a case to a UN tribunal, asking it to declare Beijing's claims of undisputed sovereignty over most of the sea as illegal, said Foreign Department spokesman Charles Jose.

"Through moral suasion, we hope the international community will help make China realise that it is also in their best interest to respect and comply with the decision of the tribunal," he said on ABS-CBN television.

"If China wants to be seen as a responsible member of the international community, then it is better for them to work, to operate within the established international order rather than outside of it."

Last month the Philippines presented an appeal before the UN tribunal, prompting China to warn that this action had "seriously damaged" bilateral ties. It said it held Manila responsible for the "consequences" of the UN move.

Speaking at the presidential palace, President Benigno Aquino's spokesman Herminio Coloma said the Philippines' objective was to show its claim over parts of the South China Sea were based on international law.

He stressed that it was not just a Philippine issue but included "even other countries with maritime entitlements under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea".

China claims almost all of the South China Sea, even up to the coasts of many of its neighbours.
This has raised territorial conflicts not only with the Philippines but also with Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam."

This WILL be the most difficult issue for the Chinese to convince the rest of the world that it is not greedy but just claiming what belonged to them according to their ancient histories.

Lessons for me are;

1. what is the fight all about? Most likely for the supposedly rich unexplored natural resources under the vast seas!;

2. which laws or precedence to refer to? For most countries, they go to the International Laws. For a few old powers, they don't exactly like that ideas as their old ancient historical claims would have given them MOST of the 'disputed areas' since their countries DID, in ancient times, ruled over a very very vast territory!;

3. China will, just as Russia just did when it 'reclaimed' the Russian-speaking part of Crimea recently, get negative press and calls and acts of sanctions if it goes its own way to claim these disputed territories. It will also put Singapore and some other friendly countries within Asean in a very difficult position. Small countries like those in Asean HAVE to rely on the international laws to resolve territorial disputes as they don't have the military might and power to do it 'my way regardless of how other may feel and act'!

For me, international laws have to be respected and used to start the 'final solution'. The "final solution" is probably one where the supposed unexplored resources under the disputed areas become a COMMON resources where the 'bounties' can be shared among the countries who can legitimately lay claim to the seas in which the resources 'reside'. Better X% by something then X% by nothing!

A dream? Maybe. But not an impossible one given the need to be pragmatic about this BIG dispute with some many countries involved! Notes: I am not sure about China-Japan or Russia-Japan as these are 'big countries'. I am talking about primarily China-Asean.