China cannot win

IN the aftermath of the most recent violent incident perpetrated by Chinese forces at Ayungin Shoal, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo filed another diplomatic protest and requested that the bilateral mechanism for resolving these conflicts be convened as early as possible. The Philippines is always ready to talk peace but determined to enforce the arbitral award and protect its sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction.

China cannot claim historic rights over the South China Sea because it is evidently not a historic bay. The concept of a historic bay, the arbitral tribunal noted, is well understood in international law. No country supports China on its absurd claim. The Asean maritime countries bordering South China and our neighbors in the Indo-Pacific support the arbitral award, and more and more countries are adding their support for the arbitral award.