More than 20 defense leaders in the region, including China, have verbally agreed to promote a rules-based international order.
This coincides with the Chiefs of Defense Conference held in Nadi, Fiji from August 14 to 16.
According to Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner, Jr., all the present defense leaders agreed but there was no resolution or written agreement and only a verbal agreement between the participants.
The AFP official further explained that when it is said rules-based international order, they will follow the agreements such as the United Nation Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and should not use force or coercive and dangerous tactics just to promote personal interest. .
Brawner is one of the 25 defense leaders who attended the meeting with the NATO official, where this is the first time that China has sent a representative or deputy commander.
He said the Philippines was given an opportunity to present where it showed how much PH follows the international rules-based order. Brawner also presented the arbitration ruling in 2016 that said China’s claim of the 9-dash line was illegal. It also showed the video of China water bombing the PH resupply boat.
According to Brawner, General Xu Qiling, deputy chief of staff at the Joint Staff Department of China’s Central Military Commission, responded and said that China follows international rules in disputed waters, and that the 2016 arbitral ruling that favored the Philippines was invalid and unacceptable to them.
But Brawner replied that if China has a historical claim on the disputed water, the Philippines also has a historical claim on the WPS.
