Officials hail ruling on sea dispute

Officials welcomed yesterday the landmark ruling of the United Nations (UN)-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration on the case filed by the Philippines against China’s claims of sovereignty over the large swathes of the West Philippine Sea. “I am elated at the verdict of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague on Beijing’s claims to parts of the West Philippine Sea. I applaud the Philippine government’s commitment to the peaceful resolution of territorial disputes with our neighbors by invoking the Tribunal’s jurisdiction. This is a victory not only for the Philippines but more importantly for the rule of law,” neophyte Sen. Joel Villanueva said yesterday. Villanueva, however, expressed optimism that China would soon recognize the ruling as it will have a lasting implication on the global trade given that the West Philippine Sea is one of the busiest trade routes in the world. “I call on China to respect the [...]