(L-R): Harlan Cohen, Professor, Fordham Law School, Marryum Kahloon, Consul General Senen T. Mangalile, and Eran Sthoeger (top left on screen): and Andrew Loewenstein | Photo via Philippine Consulate General New York
NEW YORK – Consul General Senen T. Mangalile spoke at a symposium held at the Fordham Law School of Fordham University in New York during a panel discussion on the contribution of the 2016 Arbitral Award on South China to international law and the crucial role of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in resolving inter-state disputes.
“The [Arbitral] Award is a clarion call for states to respect legal processes and the principles enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to resolve disputes peacefully,” the consul general said. The ruling not only resolves specific legal questions but also contributes to the evolution of international maritime law, influencing future adjudications and state practices.”
“The Philippines fervent hope,” the consul general continued, “is that actions intended to support and advance international law, including UNCLOS, in the South China Sea will be sustained and intensified. As more countries demand that rules be respected, we all contribute to having the South China Sea as a sea of peace and stability for the benefit of the coastal states and the broader community of nations that ply these waters.”
Andrew Loewenstein, Partner at Foley & Hoag LLP and former counsel of the Philippines in the South China Sea Case, also spoke during the event. He focused on the environmental aspects of the South China Sea Dispute, such as China’s massive artificial island building, illegal fishing of rare species in the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and its environmental impact. He said the Award pointed out China’s failure to abide by international environmental norms.
Marryum Kahloon, Senior Associate at Gibson Dunn, discussed the PCA’s flexibility as an alternative platform for settling disputes. Eran Sthoeger, Professor at Brooklyn Law School, presented the PCA’s unique role in conciliation between states, citing the case of Timor Lester and Australia as an example.
Mangalile ended his presentation by encouraging law students, lawyers, and scholars who attended the event to continue their interest and scholarship in international law to help sustain a rules-based international order.
The symposium offered an opportunity for the Philippines to contribute to academic discourse, foster understanding, and engage with a broader community.
The Fordham International Law Association and the Leitner Center for International Law and Justice jointly organized the event.
–With Ricky Rillera/PDM
