Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 30) — The Philippines may have won its maritime case against China but so far, that victory has only been on paper.
Beijing still virtually controls the South China Sea – including what Filipinos call the West Philippine Sea.
Supreme Court Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza and former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay helped build and argue the case, and they are cautiously optimistic about the upcoming talks between the Philippines and China.
WATCH: PH maritime case: What’s at stake
“If you will remember, we had 17 years of bilateral talks with China. It did not produce productive results, Jardeleza said Thursday. “That’s why we went to arbitration. So now, we’re going back to bilateral talks and that’s the irony of this – and that’s the twist.”
For his part, Hilbay said the Philippines “have long since recognized that we are the underdogs when it comes to bilateral talks because they’re a superpower economically and militarily.”
The arbitral award nullifies China’s sweeping 9-dash line claim on the vast South China Sea and affirms the Philippines’ maritime entitlements and exclusive economic zone.
Read: PH wins maritime arbitration case vs. China
President Rodrigo Duterte has chosen not to trumpet the victory, but now Hilbay and Jardeleza say it’s time to put the award to good use.
“The Philippine government will have to determine their priorities; which parts of the decision they think they can push forward and which parts of the decision they think will take some time,” Hilbay said.
Hilbay says securing free access to fishing grounds should be a top priority because it directly affects many Filipinos.
But the government must also fight for the exploration and exploitation rights the award provides.
Jardeleza said, “We should trust the President that in the give-and-take, you know he is a lawyer, I know that he has the interest of the country at heart and he will be guided by the award and the Constitution.”
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Manuel Teehankee said the government would capitalize on the award during the talks.
“It definitely will be an important guide to the positions of the Philippines, and as already announced, it will provide a framework and all actions of the government will be consistent with international law and the award,” Teehankee said.
These experts say Filipinos have reason to hope that this time, the government will not come out of the talks empty-handed.
