THE U.N. PEACEKEEPING FORCE IS NEEDED IN THE SPRATLYS

By Bayawanon

After the rendition of the United Nations Arbitral Court of the Law of the Seas regarding its decision in the territorial impasse between China and the Republic of the Philppines where the International Court favored the Philippines and after China ignoring the same decision by the said court, I believe that the proposal of Philippine Senator Panfilo Lacson that the peacekeeping force of the United Nations shall be stationed in the Spratlys Islands be given ample consideration.

As we all know there are many country claimants in the mineral rich islands of the Spratlys. Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunie, Vietnam, Taiwan, China and the Philippines are the country claimants of the said group of islands. Almost all of the claimants aside from China claim that part of the Spratlys belong to them and fall; under the Exclusive Economic Zone of their respective countries. China on the other hand claims all of the Spratlys group of islands not basing on the United Nation's Convention of the Law of the Seas or UNCLOS but by virtue of the so-called NINE DASH LINE an alleged old map dating back from the olden monarchies of China.

China flexed her military and naval might in asserting her territorial claims and by attempting to own the WEST PHILIPPINE SEA nee SOUTH CHINA SEA by way of the NINE DASH LINE over other claimants, hence the Philippines with the backing of her co-claimant states asked the legal succour of the U.N. Arbitral Court of the Law of the Seas to settle the legal issues anchored on the averments of both parties. Luckily the U.N. Arbitral Court on the Law of the Seas favored the other claimant states as represented by the Philippines.

 Now ,we have a great dilemma, China would not honor the claims of the other claimant states as represented by the Philippines and continues her stand regarding her claims over the Spartlys and the West Philippine Sea, such development may trigger a shooting war between China and the alliance of the claimant states namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunie, Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines. Other countries aside from the above-named states like Japan, India, Australia, the United States may also join their cause against China since they are already affected by the recent standoff between China and her opponents regarding international navigation since China acts as if she is now a traffic policeman if not the owner of the West Philippine Sea or South China Sea.

In view of the foregoing arguments and premises, I hope and pray that the United Nations' Peacekeeping Force be stationed in the Spratlys and that its naval forces would patrol the West Philippine Sea or South China Sea so that peace would be installed over the said disputed islands and sea and that friendship and amity between the countries concerned would continue. So be it.