Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Former Solicitor General Atty. Estelito Mendoza appealed to the government to suspend the proceedings of the United Nations (UN) Arbitral Tribunal on the territorial dispute case against China.
The tribunal court in The Hague is expected to make a ruling by the end of May or early June. Mendoza suggested for the government to buy time “at least until July 31.”
“So that the president who is elected in the next elections will have a full range of options, including withdrawing the petitions before the arbitral tribunal court,” Mendoza explained before the Rotary Club of Manila at the Manila Polo Club on Thursday (April 28).
Mendoza is a maritime law expert and a former delegate of the Philippines to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in 1979.
He also said China is doing aggressive efforts to fortify the man-made islands in the South China Sea.
“According to an article published by the PLA Daily on Sunday, April 17, China’s South China Sea fleets have conducted training drills with upgraded methods that resemble actual combat conditions,” Mendoza said.
He added that this is China’s reaction to the recent military activities in the Philippines.
Recently, the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippines and the United States was activated.
The government announced the five military bases that will be ready for U.S. operations, including an air base in Puerto Princesa, Palawan facing South China Sea.
U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter also visited the Philippines, followed by the turnover of military aircrafts to the government.
However, geopolitical analyst Prof. Richard Heydarian said suspending the arbitration case is not the best move for the Philippines.
“Mahalaga na yung susunod na presidente ng Pilipinas may leverage siya,” Heydarian said.
[Translation: It is important that the next president of the Philippines has leverage on this issue.]
Heydarian said the Philippines has a high chance of winning the arbitration case.
“There is just no way for you to get concessions or compromise from China if you have nothing to offer to them or if you have no leverage to them,” Heydarian said.
