GOVPH

DFA Statement On The Death Of Former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo

Statement of Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique A. Manalo on the 6th Anniversary of the Award on the South China Sea Arbitration

12 July 2022. Today we commemorate the 6th anniversary of the Award on the South China Sea Arbitration. More than a historic milestone whose value lies in its commemorative significance, we recall 12 July 2016 as the day that affirmed to the community of nations that the rule of law prevails, and that stability, peace and progress can only be attained when founded on a rules-based legal order on the oceans, as it should be everywhere else.

The Award and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) are the twin anchors of the Philippines’ policy and actions on the West Philippine Sea.

The year 2022 is also the 40th anniversary of the adoption of UNCLOS. UNCLOS sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out. There is no recourse to general international law on matters comprehensively covered by the UNCLOS. Compliance with UNCLOS, which represents a delicate balance of the rights and obligations of all States Parties, in its entirety is key to ensuring global and regional peace and the fair and sustainable use of the oceans.

The Award, an affirmation of UNCLOS’ dispute resolution mechanisms, not only sets reason and right in the South China Sea, but is an inspiration for how matters should be considered – through reason and right – by states facing similarly challenging circumstances.

It authoritatively ruled that the claim of historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within the ‘nine-dash line’ had no basis in law and is without legal effect.

It upheld the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction in its exclusive economic zone.

It affirmed that certain actions within the Philippines’ EEZ violated the Philippines’ sovereign rights and were thus unlawful; that large-scale reclamation and construction of artificial islands caused severe environmental harm in violation of international conventions; that the large-scale harvesting of endangered marine species damaged the marine ecosystem; and that actions taken since the commencement of the arbitration had aggravated the disputes.

These findings are no longer within the reach of denial and rebuttal, and are conclusive as they are indisputable. The Award is final. We firmly reject attempts to undermine it; nay, even erase it from law, history and our collective memories. At the same time, we welcome the support of a growing list of countries for the Award.

The Award benefits the world across the board. We do not see it as directed at any other country, near or far. We see it as it should be seen: as favoring all which are similarly situated by clarifying definitively a legal situation beyond the reach of arms to change. It puts this aspect of international law beyond the limit of prescription.

And so we say once again: the present that we need and the future that we want is a peaceful South China Sea. The Philippines is committed to this for as long as it exists.

Philippine Embassy Video Featured in ASEANPEDIA Website Introduces The Philippines To Japanese Students

8 July 2022 – The newly relaunched ASEANPEDIA website now features a video introduction on the Philippines. The video, co-produced by the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo and the ASEAN-Japan Center (AJC), provides information about the country’s geography, culture, tourism offerings, and a brief history of Philippine-Japan relations as narrated by the Embassy’s Chargé d’ Affaires (CDA) Robespierre L. Bolivar.

The video was released in time for the celebration of the 66^th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Japan in July 2022.

“The Philippines has been called the Pearl of the Orient since our country’s map looks like a string of pearls and is rich with natural resources, including pearls,” notes CDA Bolivar as he encourages viewers to learn more about the country. He also invites the Japanese to visit the Philippines so that they could experience “the best beaches, the most delicious food, and the warmest smiles.”

The video features a rendition of Tinikling performed by the Philippine Cultural Dance Troupe of the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (TUFS). They also introduced the phrase “Mas masaya kung sama-sama tayo” (It’s more fun when we are together).

ASEANPEDIA originally launched in 2016 and was revitalized by the ASEAN-Japan Centre in mid-2022.   The website aims to introduce the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to the Japanese public, especially junior high school and high school students. Each webpage introduces one of the ten ASEAN countries and includes information about their history, world heritage sites, food, traditional costumes, sports, and a snapshot of their bilateral relations with Japan in the areas of trade, investment, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

The video about the Philippines is among the first three country videos currently available in the website.  Viewers can learn about the Philippines and the Philippine Embassy in Japan by visiting the ASEANPEDIA website on https://aseanpedia.asean.or.jp/country_profile/philippine/ and its YouTube page https://youtu.be/xIJ275D4vDQ.