By Jonathan G. Villarasa
Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo (Photo courtesy of PNA)
Despite the June 17 incident involving the Chinese Coast Guard disrupting a Philippine resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal that severely injured one Filipino soldier, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it is working to convene a dialogue with China in the hopes of creating some “confidence-building measures.”
During a Senate hearing Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said the agency, in consultation with the National Maritime Council, agreed on the “primacy of dialogue and diplomacy” even in the face of these serious incidents.
“Though, of course, I admit it's also a challenge. Nevertheless, we will pursue the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international laws, specifically the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 Arbitral Award,” said Manalo.
“We have been working hard to bring back China to the table to talk with us to resolve differences on these issues,” he added as he noted that the Philippines and China have an existing mechanism for dialogue on issues surrounding the South China Sea called the bilateral consultation mechanism (BCM).
Last week, Manalo said a working group discussion was convened in preparation for what is being slated as the 9th BCM meeting.
The DFA is hoping to convene the meeting by early July, Manalo said.
While the regular meeting, should it proceed, would most likely cover the June 17 incident, Manalo expressed optimism the two states can arrive “at some kind of confidence-building measures.”
These “confidence-building measures,” Manalo said,could hopefully create a basis for “more serious discussions” to see how the two states can address issues in the area.
On top of bilaterally engaging with China, Manalo said the Philippines is working closely with other international partners and on the multilateral front to promote a rules-based order in the region.
“So, we will continue to pursue these efforts, and also let me just assure the committee and the Filipino people that while we are seeking the approach for a peaceful resolution through international law and diplomacy, of course, we are not blind to the incidents which are happening," he said.
"We will ensure that whatever confidence-building measures we achieve, they will be not at the expense of the promotion of our sovereignty, sovereign rights as well as our rights and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea,” he said.
On top of denouncing China's actions in a public statement, Manalo confirmed that the DFA has reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry and its embassy in the Philippines to "sternly communicate" Manila's position on the incident.
"We sternly communicated to our counterparts that it was really incomprehensible how the delivery of basic necessities to our troops on the [BRP] Sierra Madre could be considered a provocation that would justify an increased level of Chinese actions and so, therefore, we believe their actions only intensified and escalated tensions and certainly, something we should be concerned about," he said.
Meanwhile, the Association of Generals and Flag Officers (AGFO) reiterated their support for the government’s firm stand to assert the country’s sovereign rights in the SCS.
The group also called on the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to protect its frontline personnel.
“AGFO supports and trusts the government stand to assert our sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea and exhorts the Armed Forces of the Philippines in protecting and taking care of our frontline troops,” the group said in a statement.
AGFO said the actions of the China Coast Guard (CCG) and China Maritime Militia (CMM) were unprofessional, escalatory, and in violation of numerous United Nations protocols.
The group also commended the heroic and professional conduct of the Philippine Navy officers during the June 17 rotation and reprovisioning (RORE) mission to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.
“In spite of escalatory actions of China seagoing elements in West Philippine Sea, our navy personnel exercised extreme caution and unequalled patience to successfully complete their mission amidst undue harassment and risk of physical harm,” it said.
It was reported that CCG and CMM members armed with knives attacked the RORE mission, damaging Philippine assets and wounding a Filipino Navy sailor.
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