DFA to tackle WPS row at Bilateral Consultation Mechanism in Xiamen
MANILA, Philippines — Diplomats of the Philippines and China are expected to tackle the West Philippine Sea row, including recent developments and issues, as well as the “possible cooperation” between the coast guards of the two nations at the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) on the South China Sea presently being held in China.
Speaking to reporters in an ambush interview on Wednesday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said he does not want to prejudge what the outcome of the BCM will be.
“But what I can say is that they will, of course, be discussing the situation in the region, the South China Sea, in the West Philippine Sea, including the recent developments and, of course, other issues [that] have been under discussion for some time, which are aimed at seeing how we can cooperate in certain areas, such as in the environment, and even possible cooperation between the coast guards [of] the Philippines and China,” said Manalo.
READ: PH, China ministers talk de-escalation – but ‘Monster’ back in EEZ
While he did not categorically answer whether or not the Philippine side will specifically demand, during the BCM, that China pull out its “monster” ship in Philippine waters, Manalo simply said, “We will certainly raise the concerns we have, including that.”
Article continues after this advertisementPhilippine diplomats, headed by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Ma. Theresa Lazaro, are presently in Xiamen, China to meet their Chinese counterparts for another BCM.
Article continues after this advertisementIn the same interview, Manalo was asked what the Philippines and China intended to achieve with the proposed establishment of coast guard-to-coast guard cooperation.
“Well, we hope to establish means of cooperation and undertaking, let’s say, positive activities, but that will have to be agreed [upon] in a memorandum of understanding between the two. But it’s cooperative in nature, of course,” said Manalo.