Philippines to discuss South China Sea in Asia-Europe summit

The Philippines has announced that the approach to the South China Sea will be discussed within the agenda of the Asem summit.

Philippine foreign secretary Perfecto Yasay will attend the two-day Asia-Europe summit, known as Asem, starting on Friday in Mongolia along with Chinese premier Li Keqiang.

“Secretary Yasay will discuss within the context of Asem’s agenda the Philippines’ peaceful and rules-based approach on the South China Sea and the need for parties to respect the recent decision,” the Philippine foreign affairs department said in a statement.

According to the Guardian, this was the first detailed response from the Philippines to Tuesday’s verdict by the permanent court of arbitration in The Hague declaring that China’s claims to the resource-rich and strategically vital South China Sea had no legal basis.

China vowed to ignore the ruling, saying the UN-backed tribunal had no jurisdiction over the case and accusing it of bias.

On Wednesday, Beijing reportedly raised the prospect of confrontation in the sea and threatened to introduce an air defence zone that would assert Chinese military authority over foreign aircraft.

China allegedly said on Monday that the maritime dispute should not be included on the Asem agenda, with the assistant foreign minister Kong Xuanyou insisting the meeting was “not an appropriate venue”.

The Asem summit brings together nations from Asia and Europe, including other claimants to the disputed waters, Vietnam and Malaysia.