2016年CRI Ramos to visit China for talks on South China Sea disputes

 

Local media in the Philippines are reporting the country's former President, Fidel Ramos, has accepted an offer from current President Rodrigo Duterte to be the government's special envoy¹ to China.

88-year-old Ramos was President of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998, and has been largely credited with solidifying² ties between the two countries.

Ramos reportedly met with Duterte on Saturday to discuss the upcoming mission to China.

The Philippine government has yet to comment.

Ramos was reportedly tapped by Duterte just days after the Permanent Court of Arbitration³ ruled in favor of the Philippines on the South China Sea dispute.

However, at 88-years old, his age reportedly left Ramos questioning whether he would be up for the job.

Despite the court's ruling, Rodrigo Duterte on Friday said he hopes China and the Philippines can reach a settlement to end their dispute in the South China Sea, citing economic reasons.

Announcing plans to establish industrial zones across the Philippines, Duterte says a peaceful resolution of the dispute will not only benefit bilateral⁴ trade, but also Chinese investment in the Philippines.

Attending this weend's ASEAN+3 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Laos, Chinese Vice⁵ Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin says bilateral talks remain the only option to bringing the dispute to an end.

"We are very dissatisfied and unhappy with the ruling by the international court of arbitration, and we immediately made clear our stance of non-acceptance and non-recognition. So, now the dispute between China and the Philippines has returned to where it was three and a half years ago when the Philippines first unilaterally initiated⁷ the arbitration. The dispute still exists and negotiation⁸ is the only way out."

A growing number of international observers are also suggesting talks between China and the Philippines is the best option.

Prasit Aekaputra is a professor of law at Thailand's Thammasat University.

"I thin it's the best way. Forget this verdict, because the verdict cannot be enforceable. And other states would like to submit the case, just like the Philippines, for what? Vietnam, Malaysia or Brunei, I think it is useless to solve this problem (in such a way). We need to use a diplomatic way, it is much better than litigation."

Li Guoqiang with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences suggests it will be in the best interest of the Philippine government to restart talks.

"China has always been open to negotiations⁹ on the South China Sea issue, and China welcomes all efforts by relevant countries to resolve the dispute through dialogue and negotiation. Also, if China and the Philippines can initiate⁶ talks again on this topic, the discussions should not by any means be based on the arbitration results."

It's being reported the ruling from The Hague will not be part of the agenda if, and when, Ramos is dispatched to China to open up talks.

For CRI, I'm Victor Ning.

1 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

2 solidifying   

（使）成为固体，（使）变硬，（使）变得坚固( solidify的现在分词 )； 使团结一致； 充实，巩固； 具体化

参考例句：

• The substances are formed from a mixture of liquids solidifying under pressure. 这些材料是由几种液体混合在一起并加压使之凝固而成的。
• Painting is an art solidifies time and space for solidifying. 绘画是凝固了的时间和空间的艺术。

3 arbitration   

n.调停，仲裁

参考例句：

• The wage disagreement is under arbitration.工资纠纷正在仲裁中。
• Both sides have agreed that the arbitration will be binding.双方都赞同仲裁具有约束力。

4 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

5 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

6 initiate   

vt.开始，创始，发动；启蒙，使入门；引入

参考例句：

• A language teacher should initiate pupils into the elements of grammar.语言老师应该把基本语法教给学生。
• They wanted to initiate a discussion on economics.他们想启动一次经济学讨论。

7 initiated   

n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入

参考例句：

• He has not yet been thoroughly initiated into the mysteries of computers. 他对计算机的奥秘尚未入门。
• The artist initiated the girl into the art world in France. 这个艺术家介绍这个女孩加入巴黎艺术界。

8 negotiation   

n.谈判，协商

参考例句：

• They closed the deal in sugar after a week of negotiation.经过一星期的谈判，他们的食糖生意成交了。
• The negotiation dragged on until July.谈判一直拖到7月份。

9 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。