TOKYO, Japan – Walang dapat ipangamba ang Pilipinas na igiit ang rule of law sa South China Sea dahil hindi naman ito nag-iisa, ayon sa isang Japanese foreign policy expert.
“You have a lot of friends on your side,” ayon kay Shingo Yamagami, acting Director General ng Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA). “Frankly, I believe in the international community is with you,” dagdag pa nito.
Patunay umano sa suporta ng international community ang pahayag ng foreign ministers ng Group of Seven (G7) na inendorso naman ng Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, at United States.
Sa kanilang Statement on Maritime Security na inisyu sa Hiroshima noong April 11, nanawagan ang G7 foreign ministers sa lahat ng bansa na isulong ang payapang paraan sa pagharap sa maritime dispute, at kailangang naaayon ito sa pandaigdigang batas.
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Kabilang sa mga paraan ang pagpapairal sa ‘dispute settlement mechanisms’ na kinikilala ng buong mundo, kasama dito ang arbitration.
“In a statement made by G7 leaders and foreign ministers, it is not the support but what could be the support they can provide,” ani Yamagami. “As far as I know, that is the strongest worded, and the most unambiguous support provided by the G7 vis-a-vis the effort by the Philippine government.”
Bumilib din umano si Yamagami sa pamahalaan ng Pilipinas na nagnanais na resolbahin ang isyu sa South China Sea, sa pamamagitan ng payapang pamamaraan.
“I saw that there was no euphoria on the part of the Filipinos,” pahayag pa ni Yamagami. “Rather their response were very much restrained and they’re cool headed. I was very much impressed by that. That was more than encouraging to me,” dagdag pa nito. (Roy C. Mabasa)
