PH, China foreign ministries press for dialogue on maritime issues

CODE OF CONDUCT. Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique A. Manalo gives his keynote speech at the Dialogue on Maritime Governance in the South China Sea in Makati on Wednesday. He said the Philippine government is pushing for a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea that is anchored on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). (DFA photo by Maria Vanessa Ubac)

MANILA – The Philippines and China’s top diplomats are pressing for continuous dialogue in tackling the current situation in the South China Sea as tensions heat up over Beijing’s previous actions in the disputed area.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo on Thursday said he and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a “frank and candid exchange” over a phone call on December 20 and ended their conversation “with a clearer understanding of our respective positions on a number of issues.”

He said both he and Wang “noted the importance of dialogue in addressing these issues.”

State-run Xinhua has quoted Wang as saying that the Philippines and China relations are currently facing “severe difficulties” over the country’s change in its policy stance.

Wang noted that the bilateral relationship between the two countries “now stands at a crossroads, with its future yet to be decided” and that the Philippines side “must act with caution.”

He said China is ready to resolve differences through dialogue and consultation but warned that if the country “misjudges the situation, goes its own way, or even colludes with ill-intentioned external forces to continue to stir up troubles, China will defend its rights in accordance with law and respond resolutely.”

The Philippine government earlier asked China to stop lingering in waters around Ayungin Shoal, a feature in the South China Sea situated within the country’s 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.

This month alone, it protested the Chinese Coast Guard’s aggressive actions that led to collision, illegal shadowing, and undue use of water cannons during the country’s rotation and resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal on December 10.

A day prior, China also used water cannons against three Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessels that were providing fuel and groceries to Filipinos fishing at Bajo de Masinloc.

During their phone call, the Chinese side said Manalo and Wang agreed to actively create “favorable conditions” for the next Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) on the South China Sea.

The last BCM was held in March.