Several maritime-related proposals from China were received by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), based on its report on Tuesday.
The DFA said that with the proposals made by China on the South China Sea, only a few were “somewhat workable,” while the others were in opposition as they were against the Philippines’ national interests.
According to DFA, one of China’s proposals was to insist on actions deemed to be recognition of China’s control and administration over the Second Thomas Shoal, saying that the Philippines could not consider the proposal without violations of international law.
The DFA also said that Beijing’s proposals to normalize the situation in disputed areas of the South China Sea were met with inaction by the Philippine government, wishing to underscore the country’s approach in the confidential negotiations with sincerity and good faith.
In the proposal, China presented 11 concept papers that tackled managing the Second Thomas Shoal and fishing issues in the Scarborough Shoal.
It added that agreements should not damage the Philippine Constitution or reduce the country’s rights under international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award.
