ASEAN meet a 'golden opportunity' to discuss sea disputes: Golez

ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/overseas/04/08/westphsea-pagasa-rtr-040817.jpg"/></figure></div><p>NO COMPROMISE: A former national security adviser believes the upcoming ASEAN meeting in Bohol is a golden opportunity for the Philippines to take a stronger stand on the South China Sea territorial disputes.</p><p>In an interview with ANC, former national security adviser Roilo Golez said a recent survey shows that 84% of Filipinos want the government to make a particularly stronger stand on the Hague ruling which the Philippines won over China.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/25/16/ph-urges-asean-back-arbitration-ruling-on-s-china-sea">PH urges ASEAN: Back arbitration ruling on S. China Sea</a></li></ul><p>&quot;To me, one way of showing this... The first global opportunity to show this is in the ASEAN meeting. This is a golden opportunity and we should take advantage of it,&quot; said Golez.</p><p>According to Golez, this year&#x27;s ASEAN chairmanship of the Philippines would be a chance for the country to steer discussions towards making an agreement on the framework on the code of conduct.</p><p>He stressed that it would be embarrassing if another country would put the discussions on the South China Sea disputes on the table instead of the Philippines.</p><p>Golez said the Philippines can still pursue economic engagements with Beijing without sacrificing the country&#x27;s stand on its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).</p><p>&quot;Territory is something that cannot be compromised,&quot; he said.</p><div><strong>FOLLOW VIETNAM</strong></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/news/04/18/041817_woody.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">A Chinese J-11 fighter jet is pictured on the airstrip at Woody Island in the South China Sea in this March 29, 2017 handout satellite photo. <cite>CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative/DigitalGlobe/Handout via Reuters</cite></div></figcaption></figure></div><p>Golez said the Philippines should study the way Vietnam dealt with China, given the conflict between the two countries throughout the years.</p><p>&quot;They&#x27;ve had some running battles, wars, skirmishes. But at the same time Vietnam has handled China diplomatically... They&#x27;ve exchanged visits at the highest levels,&quot; he said.</p><p>The former national security adviser pinpointed an incident in 2014, when Vietnam held its ground as China tried to deploy an oil rig to the former&#x27;s EEZ.</p><p>Vietnam, he recalled, sent fishing boats to meet China&#x27;s ships and vessels from the two countries battled in the disputed seas.</p><p>&quot;After two months of that kind of encounter, watched by the entire world, China backed out,&quot; Golez said. &quot;That is something that we can study, how they do it.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/global-filipino/world/06/15/15/vietnam-fishermen-attacked-chinese-boats-report">Vietnam fishermen attacked by Chinese boats: report</a></li></ul><p>Another thing the Philippines can learn from Vietnam, said Golez, is how they handle the official development assistance (ODA) funds from various countries.</p><p>He said Vietnam was able to build a lot of modern infrastructure and boost their defensive capabilities with their ODA.</p><p>&quot;We must use the example of Vietnam that was able to balance geopolitical, economic defense, and security interests to have what they have now,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>NO COMPROMISE ON TERRITORY: A former national security adviser believes the upcoming ASEAN meeting in Bohol is a golden opportunity for the Philippines to take a stronger stand on the South China Sea territorial disputes.</p>

NO COMPROMISE ON TERRITORY: A former national security adviser believes the upcoming ASEAN meeting in Bohol is a golden opportunity for the Philippines to take a stronger stand on the South China Sea territorial disputes.

ASEAN meet a 'golden opportunity' to discuss sea disputes: Golez | ABS-CBN

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ASEAN meet a 'golden opportunity' to discuss sea disputes: Golez

ASEAN meet a 'golden opportunity' to discuss sea disputes: Golez

ABS-CBN News

Published Apr 18, 2017 10:22 AM PHT

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Updated Apr 18, 2017 10:31 AM PHT

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