Handle disputes properly

Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III is expected to exploit his ongoing first state visit to China to help boost the Philippines' domestic economic growth and trade connections with China, but the Philippines needs to realize that China-Philippines cooperation depends on proper settlement of maritime disputes, says a commentary of Xinhua News Agency. Excerpts:

China has always made itself loud and clear that it has indisputable sovereignty over the sea's islands and surrounding waters, which is part of China's core interests. That is based on unambiguous and undeniable historical facts.

Meanwhile, Beijing is willing to follow the principle of shelving differences and seeking joint development, so as to create amicable, secure and prosperous neighborhood with the Philippines.

China and all ASEAN nations also hammered out last month a set of guidelines for implementing the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

Yet these policies can never be effective in maintaining regional peace and stability and solving differences had countries involved failed to embrace China's candidness and goodwill with concrete actions.

China has also repeatedly urged the Philippine side to halt its action deemed detrimental to China's maritime sovereignty and interests in the South China Sea and to cease releasing irresponsible remarks. But some Philippine politicians seem not to take China's legitimate demands seriously. The only possible path toward figuring out the two nations' maritime problems is through trustful bilateral dialogues instead of attempting to drag any third party into the row.