POLITICS: National Security Council meeting today

Wednesday is likely to be a very important day for Duterte and the Philippines since some very important engagements are slated for that day; the biggest ally of the Filipinos, the United States of America is sending. He has an all-important meeting with John Kerry, the secretary of State of the United States regarding the special relationship that the two countries have traditionally been enjoying as allies.

The meeting is stated to be arranged to take stock of the various issues of common interest to Manila and Washington and sort at any issues that were in need of thrashing out, modifying, adding or removing.

The representatives of the two countries will also pay a lot of time to the recent ruling of the UNCLOS and its arbitration body, ITLOS. It is significant to note that the ruling from the permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague had made public the judgement that was decided by the ITLOS with a landmark judgement.

The vital meeting which will be the first one since the ITLOS ruling a fortnight ago; the venue of the meeting has been fixed at Malacanan and will commence at noon today.

The expansive claims made by China were effectively turned down in this judgement which is the first of its kind in the region since the imbroglio of the South China Seas began gaining prominence because of the tough stand and harassment by the Chinese of workers of other countries.

 

The basic aim of this exercise at the Presidential Palace seems to be the assess the situation arising out of the judgement and the future course of action along with the strategy to be adopted; even if nothing solid comes out of this initial meet, at least the groundwork and the agenda for the future will be prepared.

The Chinese are claiming sovereignty over more than 90% of the South China Seas in this case but the judgement has effectively given rulings that may set to rest further litigation subject to several    conditions, the foremost being China giving up its defiant attitude.

 

The International Arbitration Tribunal was specific and detailed in its ruling that the following were the disputed areas on which China had no right despite its claim and that the sovereign rights belonged to the Philippines:

• Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal,
• Panganiban ( Mischief Reef),
• Recto bank ( Reed Bank), and
• Designated areas along the Western Province of Palawan in the Philippines

 

A United States Congressional delegation had met the President last week for a courtesy call and Duterte had, during the conversations made a clear assurance that, under no circumstances, would he budge from his position nor would he surrender even an inch of land to China.

 

He also assured the delegation that he was clear in his mind about his obligation to his allies and will ensure that their interests were fully safeguarded in any or all negotiations that he would have with the Chinese.

‘Delicate situation’

As per the tentative schedule, about three hours after the meeting with Kerry ends, the National Security Council will also assemble at the Presidential Palace to discuss the provisions of the judgement and the right course of action that the country must unitedly adopt. The issues discussed with Kerry may not be immediately revealed but, it is necessary to take all the citizens and political parties into confidence since the security concerns are quite immense.

They have to jointly find a means to find a favorable solution where they neither lose territory nor face; Duterte declared that the South China Seas issues will surely be solved through dialogue, diplomacy and other peaceful means but we cannot take chances with National Security.

That is why a general alert has been issued to the armed forces to remain on the alert for any eventualities.

The situation is very tricky and the dialogues are commencing so we should keep a watchful eye but observe restraint since it is not in anybody’s interest to have a conflict situation developing; he also advised soldiers in In Nueva Ecija yesterday that there should be no provocation from our side.

The job of the Armed forces is to provide protection while ensuring the integrity of its territories, he added.

The distinguished gathering

The National Security Council will see the likes of:

1. Benigno Aquino III,
2. Fidel Ramos,
3. Gloria Arroyo, and

All former Presidents are automatically members of the NSC which has 35 members from the legislature   and the Executive; former Council Presidents are also members.

President Duterte will be leading the NSC for the first time since he was elected President and took over on 30^th June 2016.

 

Umrao Singh                                                    umraoz.wordpress.com

Written for:  Lars-Magnus Carlsson                             www.thephilippinepride.com

 

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