FOLLOWING the note verbale the Philippines filed against China, both Manila and Beijing agreed to establish a bilateral consultation mechanisms in resolving the territorial dispute over the West Philippine Sea.
Citing his recent consultation with Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Vice Minister Liu Zhenmin, Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Enrique Manalo said both the Philippines and China have agreed to come up a peaceful resolution through the principles of freedom of navigation and overflight.
“The Philippines and China should work together and cooperate for peace and stability in the region, and build mutual trust and confidence,” said Manalo who led the Filipino delegations during the 20th Philippines-China Foreign Ministry Consultations in Manila last Jan. 18.
Under the bilateral consultation mechanism, Manalo said both countries can raise current and other issues of concerns over the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea.
Manalo said that the bilateral consultation mechanism was first agreed during President Rodrigo Duterte’s first official visit to China in October 2016.
“Both sides agreed to establish a bilateral consultation mechanism on the South China Sea, which will discuss current and other issues of concern to either side, as stated in the Joint Statement issued on the occasion of President Duterte’s State Visit to China in October 2016,” Manalo said.
This week, Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. admitted that he sent at least three or four note verbale or diplomatic protest against China’s activities in the South China Sea within seven months under President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.
The recent diplomatic protest he submitted was China’s installation of weapons on Philippines’ owned reefs-turned-islands in the Kalayaan Group of Islands.
Manalo said that during the consultation, he also conveyed Philippines’ concern on China’s recent activities in the South China Sea.
Although he did not discuss further what was Liu’s response, Manalo said that both reaffirmed its commitment for a peaceful and stable climate in the disputed area.
“Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea, guided by the principles of freedom of navigation and overflight and the peaceful resolution of disputes,” Manalo said.
China also assured that it will cooperate in the early conclusion of a Code of Conduct Framework by June of 2017.
The Philippines welcomed the plan of China and the Asean to finish the general framework of the COC by June 2017.
DFA spokesman Charles Jose explained before that the framework is the skeleton or the outline of the COC and not the detailed guideline to solve the territorial dispute.
“That’s the mutual aspiration of Asean and China, especially the Philippines, because it is consistent with our position to have an expeditious conclusion of the negotiation for the Code of Conduct,” Jose said.
“But of course it should be noted this is only the general framework, this is only the skeleton or the outline of the COC. We need to put the flesh on the only bone,” he added.
The Declaration of Conduct was signed in 2002 between China and Asean, a non-binding edict aimed to reduce tensions in the region and prevents claimant-countries—China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan—from aggressively pursuing their claims.
The Code of Conduct, on the other hand, is a more binding edict that was enshrined in the DOC. It hopes to further promote peace and stability in the economically vital sea lane.
“Both sides also exchanged views on strengthening cooperation under the Asean framework, as China reiterated its support for the Philippines’ Asean Chairmanship in 2017,” Manalo said.
During the consultation, the Philippines and China discussed a wide range of areas for cooperation, including law enforcement, trade and investment, finance, tourism, culture, people-to-people exchanges, among others.
The Philippines highlighted that it would continue to enhance functional cooperation with China guided by the Philippine Development Plan and President Duterte’s 10-Point Socioeconomic Agenda.
The last FMC was held in Beijing in 2013. Both sides agreed to hold the 21st FMC at a mutually agreed date in 2018, with China as the host.