Philippine push in sea row with China should continue after polls: analyst

MANILA - The Philippines' pushback against China's intrusion in disputed waters should be sustained even after the May midterm elections, a maritime law expert said Sunday.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier this week brought up the country's arbitral win regarding its claims in the West Philippine Sea, during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The Chinese leader, however, reportedly responded by pointing out that China does not recognize the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which effectively invalidated his country’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea.

Before this, the administrations has been "pilloried" for its "friendly" approach to China, whose vessels were recently spotted circling the Philippine-occupied Pag-asa Island and harvesting clams off Scarborough Shoal, said Jay Batongbacal, director of the University of the Philippines (UP) Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea.

"The situation is not determined by whatever happens here on the ground, in the domestic setting. It's really because of China's activities there. We need to address the issues in the South China Sea continuously," he told ANC.

Duterte and Xi agreed to resolve the maritime row through "peaceful, diplomatic" means, Philippine Ambassador to China Chito Sta. Romana said.

Batongbacal, however, noted "that's exactly what they have been doing for the past couple of years and it still led to this situation."

"We do not know yet whether this will result in changes in the ground... We're looking particularly for the withdrawal of these destructive clam vessels, as well as the withdrawal of their ships," he said.

China, he said, should also ensure that its loans and investments to the Philippines do not "end up looking like a way to trade off our territories to this financial and infrastructure report."

Duterte this week attended a summit on Xi's the Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to connect Asia to Europe and Africa through massive investments in maritime, road and rail projects.

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