Senators urge DFA to comply with law on talks with China

Tolentino also urged the DFA to involve the Senate in any future exploratory talks with China since the matter involves foreign policy and national security. (File photo by Lawrence Ruiz – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0)

MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), which would lead the Philippines in the resumption of talks on a possible joint oil and gas exploration in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), should consider the Supreme Court (SC) ruling and the existing laws regarding maritime explorations, according to Senators Grace Poe and Francis Tolentino.

“In pursuing the deal, the government should also consider existing jurisprudence related to maritime explorations,” Poe said in a statement released on Monday.

“Country, constitution, civility and transparency must be our key guideposts in any dealing with foreign nations,” she added.

Poe also warned that apart from the Philippines, several other countries also filed diplomatic protests on China’s incursions in the WPS.

“Why China, or why only China, when there are other neighboring countries staking claim in the disputed sea?,” the lawmaker asked noting that the talks will resume with the continued presence in WPS of Chinese vessels.

In a radio interview on Sunday, Tolentino admitted that he is quite hesitant over the plan considering the series of bullying incidents involving the China Coast Guard and the Chinese maritime militia against the Filipino fisherfolk and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in WPS.

“Baka lalong dumami [‘yung mga barko ng China sa WPS] kasi sasabihin nilang mayroon kaming karapatan ngayon na mag-drill, mag-conduct ng scientific marine research. Eh baka iyon ang gawin (The number of Chinese vessels in WPS might increase because they will claim that they now have the right to drill, conduct scientific marine research there),” Tolentino said cautioning the DFA.

He also suggested for the DFA to consider the 2016 Hague Arbitral ruling as well as the recent SC decision which invalidated and declared unconstitutional the 2005 Tripartite Agreement for Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking before entering into another partnership with China and Vietnam.

“Dapat po siguro yung pakikipag-usap o gagawing pakikipag-usap sa People’s Republic of China ng DFA, eh isaalang-alang itong desisyon ng Supreme Court at isaalang-alang din yung nilalaman ng ating Saligang Batas base po sa ating karapatan sa ating (Maybe the resumption of talks of the DFA with the People’s Republic of China should consider this decision of the Supreme Court and also consider the contents of our Constitution based on our rights to our) exclusive economic zone,” Tolentino said.

The 2016 Arbitral Ruling basically invalidated China’s “nine-dash line” claim which is the basis of their supposed militaristic expansion in the entire South China Sea including the WPS.

Tolentino also urged the DFA to involve the Senate in any future exploratory talks with China since the matter involves foreign policy and national security.