By Rhodina Villanueva and Delon Porcalla
MANILA, Philippines - Former president Fidel Ramos has expressed support to former president Benigno Aquino III in relation to the latter’s stand to bring to international court the complaint against China concerning the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) dispute.
“This submission to the international tribunal under the United Nations to me is a correct step. We must protest not only directly to the country involved but also to the (UN) for any violations of (the) United Nations Covenant on international law,” Ramos said following the launch of his commemorative book in Quezon City Friday afternoon.
Earlier, former president Gloria Arroyo said that Aquino’s arbitration suit had provoked China, which in a show of protest began building structures on islets and outcrops in the disputed Spratlys.
Though Ramos agreed with Arroyo that the submission of the case might have actually provoked China, he stressed: “The submission of the Philippine position on the West Philippine Sea is correct and, well, it may have provoked actions by China to reclaim that, and the protest must be addressed to China. I agree with her. She is correct but that is not the proper target,” Ramos said.
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