Enrique Manalo, the director of international affairs of the Philippines, claims that his organization has no purpose of jetting down or compromising its sovereign rights or interests by challenging the country’s political balance with China.
However, as the two parties shift from issue to conflict in the contested South China Sea, it is getting harder to strike a balance.
Diplomacy does not imply giving in. You not give in. See if you and your partner may come to terms with a remedy or contract. In an exclusive meeting this week in Manila, Manalo told this creator,” It is never a situation that you give in completely to the other side or submission.”  ,
Manalo made a statement just before the most recent Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) meeting between the two parties, which was held this week in Beijing. The Sabina Shoal in the Spratly Islands has recently sparked fresh conflicts, which were discussed at the meeting.
On September 11, the Chinese Vice Foreign Minister, Chen Xiaodong, and Philippine Undersecretary Theresa Lazaro held what were referred to as “frank and candid” discussions on way to de-escalate conflicts and avoid armed conflict in the fiercely disputed waters.
” Emphasizing that]Sabina ] Shoal is within the Exclusive Economic Zone ( EEZ ) of the Philippines, Undersecretary Lazaro reaffirmed Manila’s consistent position of the Philippines and explored ways to lower the tension in the area”, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs ( DFA ) said in an official statement following the high-level discussions.
” I reaffirmed the Philippines ‘ unwavering support and looked into ways to lower the tension,” Lazaro said in a separate statement on X. ” We agreed to continue conversations on areas of cooperation, particularly on line process, coastguard assistance, and marine scientific and technological assistance”.
” The two sides had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on maritime issues between China and the Philippines, especially the issue of]Sabina ] Reef”, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in its own statement.
But China vowed to “firmly defend its independence” in the contested waters and , reiterated its earlier demand , for the Philippine Coast Guard troops to abandon the contested reef in the Spratly group of islands.
The Sabina Shoal, also known as Escoda in Manila and Xianbin in Beijing, is 150 kilometers east of the Philippines ‘ special economic zone and 1,200 kilometers from Hainan, China’s southern state, is located 150 kilometers west of Palawan.
China seems concerned that Manila does attempt to build military installations on another disputed territory features despite failing to stop the Philippines from successfully fortifying its de facto naval base at the Second Thomas Shoal.
Both parties appear to be determined to avoid an military conflict at sea, which could lead to US intervention under its bilateral security agreement with the Philippines.
Earlier this month, Samuel Paparo, the captain of the US Indo-Pacific Command, boldly offered to directly support Philippine resupply and police operations in the contested waters.
Earlier this year, Manila and Beijing negotiated a faintly defined “provisional contract”, which has reduced conflicts, at least over the Following Thomas Shoal.
Potrivit to reports, proposals to develop a similar agreement across different tense sea regions have been made. The urgent need for politics has, however, been largely obstructed by both sides ‘ exceedingly uncompromising jobs.
Aggressive tones are present everywhere. Gilbert Teodoro Jr, the director of Philippine security, has questioned the knowledge of actually holding diplomatic talks with China on numerous occasions, even though this position directly contradicts the Department of Foreign Affairs ‘ place.
” No, because they ( the Chinese ) have the tendency of using the talks against us. When questioned about political management of conflicts in the South China Sea, Teodoro asserted in a Senate hearing earlier this year that they have not demonstrated a level of good faith that warranted talking to our delicate department.
Teodoro went so far as to accuse China of being” the biggest industry of international peace” last month while explicitly calling for” stronger collective international actions against China.”
Generally speaking, that tough talk is in line with local polls that constantly reveal that the majority of Filipinos favor a hard line against China alongside allies.
Chinese leaders have likewise indulged in carrot-and-stick language. At the Xiangshan conference in China, Chinese military Commander General He Lei addressed a small group of journalists as they “hope that the South China Sea may be a lake of serenity.”
” We in the Chinese People’s Liberation Army does resolutely love any foreign hostile invasion on China’s regional, royal and maritime rights and interests with strong determination, staunch may, powerful capability and powerful means”, he warned.
” If the United States moves its puppets behind the scenes, if it pushes locations to the front line, or if the United States itself ends up on the front line, therefore we in the Chinese People’s Liberation Army … will never have any patience”, He said.
Leading Spanish officials quickly responded to the provocative statement made by the Chinese general.
” We do n’t feel like we were alluded to.” In response to He’s remarks, National Security Council ( NSC ) spokesman Jonathan Malaya told the media that the Philippines is not and will never be a pawn of the United States. ” As a sovereign country, the Philippines will firmly support its regional dignity, sovereign right and jurisdiction”, he added.
In the meantime, Philippine Navy spokesman Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad stated to reporters that the army was prepared to intervene if China launches aggressive tactics against the Philippine Coast Guard’s premier ship BRP Teresa Magbanua, which has been stationed at the Sabina Shoal since April to avert China’s presence there.
” There are contingencies in place that our Western Command]in Palawan ] already knows if in case this would escalate”, Trinidad said.
A plan to extend the previous temporary agreement for the Second Thomas Shoal to various disputed ocean areas was also recently made. Filipino diplomats appear at least for the time being pushed by the security creation and another influental corporate voices and have since abandoned that strategy in favor of a tougher stance.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Manalo has vehemently denied there was any” cooperation” with China under the interim agreement, contradicting Beijing’s state of a “prior warning” mechanism for Asian resupply missions to the Next Thomas Shoal.
Filipino officials have made it clear on numerous occasions that the interim agreement does not violate the nation’s right to selfdetermination within its 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone.
” We have an Exclusive Economic Zone, which is recognized. Our presence]in the Second Thomas Shoal &, Sabina Reef ] is grounded in international law, which were agreed to by]other ] countries”, Manalo told the author this week.
China “is not necessarily adhering to the rules it has signed onto,” Manalo said, referring to China’s nine-dash line claims in the South China Sea, which were rejected by an international court in 2016 under the aegis of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.” We ca n’t discuss this based on]their ] so-called historic rights,” he said.
Manalo also refuted claims made by Chinese officials and media outlets that the Philippines is a” American puppet,” pointing rather to Manila’s unique national interest-based business model.
” We are just exercising our]sovereign ] rights…. The narrative that every action]the ] Philippines takes…It’s all at the behest of a foreign power ]assumes that ] we do n’t have our own security interests and]strategic ] agency. I do n’t think that narrative is good…we have our own interests and we are willing to discuss]possible agreements ]”, he told the author.
He cited the Philippines ‘ growing defense cooperation with allies and partners as “based on our own needs because we live in a very uncertain world,” underscoring the Philippines ‘ increasingly diversified and “multi-aligned” foreign policy philosophy.
” Definitely we are not relying on any]single ] partner. Of course, the United States is our]treaty ] ally but they are not our only partner … our relationship with Japan has been stronger. We have a much stronger ties with Australia, with Vietnam and even seeking to improve our relationships with New Zealand and, of training, India”.
Observe Richard Javad Heydarian on X at @Richeydarian