Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo. (Photo: Philstar)

Speaking at the recent 59th Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Germany, Secretary Manalo said that rival claims can only be solved peacefully by adhering to peaceful and rules-based approaches. He said that tensions caused by incidents and aggressive actions inconsistent with the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) are not conducive to promoting peace and stability.

According to Manalo, the UN could initiate an extensive debate regarding “rule and order applicable in the maritime domain and the South China Sea” to help raise awareness of the importance of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as well as maintaining a rules-based order so that any dispute or conflict is resolved through the rule of law and peaceful means instead of forcible measures and aggressive actions.