AUGUST 7, 2011

NR # 2488B

Biazon says UNCLOS will provide closure to Spratlys issue

The Chairman of the House Committee on National Defense and Security is urging the Aquino administration to strengthen the countrys frontline not only in the Spratly Islands but also in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which he firmly believes can rule over the controversial claims issue with finality. Only the UNCLOS can provide a resolution with finality to the (Spratlys issue), said Rep. Rodolfo Biazon (Lone District, Muntinlupa City), a former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Biazon filed a House resolution urging President Aquino to convene the National Security Council to come out with a national decision or stand on the issue. The NSC is composed of the President, the Vice President, national agencies and both Houses, which have committees that could analyze and recommend pertinent measures, Biazon said. Biazon said the country needs a national position on the Spratly Islands since the countrys territorial claim is being disputed by China, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan. The area, which is located in the South China Sea, is supposedly an oil and gas-rich area, so that any move by any country to lay claim on the island triggers visible reaction from other supposed claimants, especially China. Biazon issued the call as he expressed concern over various pronouncements of several sectors. We should not focus on a purely military viewpoint or impose a military solution only, but move towards a diplomatic aspect, Biazon said. We need to improve our battleground not in the Spratlys (which is a military response) but in the UNCLOS (to decide the matter with finality), Biazon stressed. Biazon said there should be references such as the Baseline Law, of which he was an author of the version adopted by Congress and which made sure of the signatories by the UN as basis of reference. Likewise, a Code of Conduct should be signed by the ASEAN plus One, which is China. All signed the COC, but it needed a resolution with finality. This is the reason why I say only the UNCLOS would provide finality to this issue. I believe we should not approach this with a purely military solution, Biazon said. Meanwhile, Biazon defended the visit of five members of the House to the disputed islands last July 20. As legislators, we have the duty and responsibility to look into all

angles of a national concern like the state of affairs in the Spratlys, which is part of our national territory, Biazon said. The five congressmen included Reps. Walden Bello and Kaka Bag-Ao (Akbayan Partylist), Ben Evardone (Eastern Samar), Emmeline Aglipay (Diwa Party-list) and Teddy Brawner-Baguilat (Ifugao). Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda had likewise given the assurance that the Philippine government is in constant dialogue with China and that the visit of the legislators were done out of their own initiative, the legislature being a coordinate branch of government. (30) mmr