FOREIGN Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. yesterday instructed the Philippine Mission to the United Nations to support the candidacy of China to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
“@DFAPH@PHMissionNY You are instructed to cast the Philippine vote for the Chinese candidate to the international court of justice. That is your only clear instruction,” Locsin tweeted on Sunday.
China, Croatia, Germany, Japan, Nigeria, Rwanda, Slovakia, Uganda are vying for the five seats that will be vacated by the five judges: Julia Sebutinde (Uganda, representing the African states); Xue Hanqin (China, representing the Asia Pacific states); Yuji Iwasawa (Japan, also representing the Asia Pacific states); Peter Tomka (Slovakia, representing the Eastern European states); and Giorgio Gaja (Italy, representing the Western European and Other states) whose terms are to expire on February 5, 2021.
The ICJ handles legal disputes including maritime issues, and requests for advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by UN organs and specialized agencies.
Earlier, the Philippines nominated incumbent Judge Japan’s Dr. Yuji Iwasawa.
P5 countries (permanent members of UN Security Council) co-nominate their members to ensure their presence on the ICJ. The Philippines is entitled to vote for more than one country with multiple vacancies .
The November 11 elections will be held at the UN headquarters in New York and those elected will commence their nine-year term on February 6, 2021.
