South China Sea ruling: Singapore urges full respect for legal processes
Photo: Associated Press
Singapore on Tuesday (12 July) urged all parties to the South China Sea dispute to fully respect legal processes after a United Nations-backed tribunal ruled against China’s claim to economic rights in large areas of the waters.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Singapore called on the states that have overlapping claims to the disputed waters to exercise restraint and avoid conducting any activities that may raise tensions in the region.
The case was brought by The Philippines before the Arbitral Tribunal and is claimed as a victory by the Asean nation, which along with China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei are the claimant states in the territorial dispute.
“We support the peaceful resolution of disputes among claimants in accordance with universally-recognised principles of international law, including UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), without resorting to the threat or use of force,” MFA said.
“As a small state, we strongly support the maintenance of a rules-based order that upholds and protects the rights and privileges of all states.”
MFA also called for the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and a legally-binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.
