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Chinese defiance spoils Philippines’ legal triumph

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Joel Guinto, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/nation/07/13/071316_xi.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Chinese President Xi Jinping makes a speech at the celebration of the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, July 1, 2016. Kim Kyung-Hoon, Reuters</div></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA - China’s refusal to recognize an international court ruling that upheld the Philippines’ right to exploit resources in disputed waters has put a damper on the landmark decision, analysts said Wednesday.As a result, Filipino fishermen may not immediately sail without fear of being harassed, oil and gas reserves will remain untapped and the Chinese will hold on to artificial islands it has built over South China Sea reefs, analysts told a media roundtable.“The key challenge is to enforce it. The hard part comes now,” former ABC News Beijing bureau chief Chito Sta. Romana said.Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to “take a hard position” on the ruling, with a Communist Party congress scheduled next year, he said.While a “storm of rhetoric” was underway, Sta. Romana said it was unlikely for Beijing to go to war over the disputed sea.“I don&#x27;t expect that they will launch a new attack on Panatag (Scarborough Shoal) but they will try to hold on,” he said.The Permanent Court of Arbitration based in The Hague has no powers to enforce its <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/12/16/philippines-beats-china-in-international-court">ruling</a>. While it upheld Manila’s right to its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone, it is not authorized to resolve questions on sovereignty. &quot;It&#x27;s a near complete victory,&quot; University of the Philippines College of Law professor Jay Batongbacal said, adding Manila was on a “moral high ground” compared to Beijing.“Properly used, this can be turned into great political leverage on all future dealings with China,” he said.The two rivals need a “cooling off period” before they can dialogue, said University of the Philippines Asian Center professor Aileen Baviera.Bavera said “saving face” is highly regarded in Chinese culture, and Manila must help Beijing with this.“Face-saving, you can’t do it by yourself. The Philippines can help (China) save face,” she said.In case negotiations for joint exploration of the disputed areas push through, the Philippines must ensure that any agreement will not violate the Constitution, said Richard Javad Heydarian, a political science professor at the De La Salle University in Manila.Heydarian cited a maritime survey agreement former President Gloria Arroyo’s government forged with China and Vietnam that was later declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

China’s refusal to recognize an international court ruling that upheld the Philippines’ right to exploit resources in disputed waters has put a damper on the landmark decision, analysts said Wednesday.

Chinese defiance spoils Philippines’ legal triumph

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Chinese defiance spoils Philippines’ legal triumph

Joel Guinto,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 13, 2016 03:07 PM PHT

|

Updated Jul 13, 2016 03:58 PM PHT

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China

Permanent Court of Arbitration

maritime dispute

South China Sea

West Philippine Sea

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