Paradigm shift needed for WPS issue—PBBM

New approach to dealing with China sought

President Marcos said the Philippines is exploring a “paradigm shift” to deal with China’s continuous aggression and harassment in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

During an interview with Japanese media on the sidelines of the 50th ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit in Tokyo, President Marcos emphasized the need for the Philippine government to devise a new approach to dealing with China, as the current efforts seem to be making “very little progress.”

“Well, to this point, we have resorted to the traditional methods of diplomacy where, should there be an incident, we send a note verbale.

Our embassy will send a démarche to the foreign affairs office in Beijing, but we have been doing this for many years now, with very little progress,” the President said.

He said the situation in the WPS will not improve if the Philippines continues to engage with China in the same manner as it has been doing in the past.

The ongoing diplomatic efforts with China are heading “in a poor direction,” he added.

“We have to do something… we have not done before. We have to come up with a new concept, a new principle, a new idea so that we move… the needle the other way,” Mr. Marcos said.

The Philippines has taken three legal steps, including filing a diplomatic protest with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, summoning Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian, and issuing a “demarche to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials” to address the actions of the China Coast Guard (CCG).

Earlier this month, Chinese naval ships water cannoned and rammed vessels of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) during a recent resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.

President Marcos said the Philippines will persist in dialogue with its partners in the Indo-Pacific region and “the rest of the world” if necessary, to de-escalate tension in the WPS.

“We do not want to go to the point where there are incidents that might cause an actual violent conflict. Maybe from a mistake or a misunderstanding and these things happen all the time,” the President said.

Asked about the specific paradigm shift that the Philippine government is considering, President Marcos mentioned various ideas but emphasized that the government will continue discussions with its partners to formulate a joint position, outlining their responsibilities concerning the WPS.

“We have, as I have said, the consensus that we must continue to promote peace, but we have to decide among ourselves what part each of us plays and what we can play, what we are willing to play,” he said.

“So, and put… all of those elements together so that we have a good plan that will take us down… not the road to conflict but down the road to peace,” he added.

China, meanwhile, expressed readiness to work with the Philippines through dialogue, but insisted that it will do its best to safeguard its territorial sovereignty over the South China Sea and that the Philippines efforts of seeking support in asserting its sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea “will take the toll.”

Wang Wenbin, spokesman of China’s foreign ministry, said that the recent development in the South China Sea is the fault of the Philippines but relations between the two countries are not all about disputes.

The Chinese official said that China is willing to properly manage differences through dialogue and consultation.

“We will not close the door to dialogue and contact with the Philippines,” he said when asked about Marcos’ comments.

In addition to the Philippines, ASEAN members Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei have overlapping claims with China in parts of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce.

“China will not weaken in its resolve to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests,” Wang said during his Monday briefing.

“We hope the Philippines will realize that tying itself to some major power and forcing China to back down on issues concerning China’s core interests will lead nowhere. Ultimately, it is the Philippines’ own interests and the region’s peace and stability that will take the toll,” he added.

After President Marcos said that a more assertive China was posing a challenge to its neighbors, Wang said it is the Philippines that is stoking tension and trying to change the status quo of the region.

“Over the past few months, it has been the Philippines who is breaching the common understandings with China and heightening tensions in the South China Sea; it is the Philippines who has attempted to change the current status of Ren’ai Jiao (the Chinese name for Ayungin Shoal, which by international law is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone) and make it a fait accompli,” he said.

“And it is the Philippines who has on every occasion courted external forces to put pressure on China,” he added.

Wang again harped on a claim that the Philippines reneged on a promise to tow away the beached BRP Sierra Madre from the shoal – a claim Manila has denied.

China has been unable to provide proof of such a promise.

Also on Tuesday, Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte said a “gaslighter like China has no place at the negotiating table amid its unceasing, increasingly provocative and dangerous bullying in Philippine seas in defiance of international law.”

“Judging from China’s insolent behavior in violation of Philippine sovereignty and our maritime rights right after every diplomatic talks between top Filipino and Chinese officials—including two engagements between Presidents Marcos and Xi Jinping this year—there is no point for us to even think about the new proposal by Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian for us to restart dialogue and consultation to settle our territorial differences,” Villafuerte said.

He said any formal negotiation between the Philippines and China on the WPS would be a “fruitless activity,” given the “dissonance” between Beijing’s words and actions.

Meanwhile, Senator JV Ejercito said Filipinos should stop bickering and instead unite against Chinese aggression and bullying.

Speaking at the Kapihan sa Senado media forum, Ejercito said he can take attacks against him, but he cannot stomach a compatriot siding with the aggressor.

He said the attacks against him are from the allies of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who during his term pursued a policy of appeasement toward Beijing.

He said he was surprised that Duterte’s supporters are avid supporters of China who are being used for destabilization efforts.

Ejercito also said the decision by President Marcos not to expel the Chinese ambassador should be respected.

“We just have to respect the decision of the President. He is our leader. So, we have to respect his discretion,” Ejercito said.

Earlier, he and Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri urged the President to send the Chinese envoy back to Beijing—but the President said doing so would be “pointless.”

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