Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 14) — The Philippines is studying China’s proposal to establish a partnership agreement with fishing villages in the West Philippine Sea, according to former National Security Adviser Clarita Carlos.
“Nagpo-propose ang China na magkaroon ng partnership between fishing villages at tinitingnan natin ngayon [China is proposing to have a partnership between fishing villages and we are studying it],” Carlos said in a televised briefing on Friday.
Aside from this proposal, the professor said the two countries have more levels of cooperation in the disputed waters that are not shared with the public.
“Halimbawa between the Philippine Coast Guard and the Chinese Coast Guard, at talagang binabalangkas kung paano talagang magkakaroon tayo ng modus vivendi na hindi magkaroon ng bungguan diyan sa contested South China Sea,” Carlos explained.
[Translation: For example, between the Philippine Coast Guard and the Chinese Coast Guard, and it is being drafted on how can we have a modus vivendi that would not cause conflict in the contested South China Sea.]
Modus vivendi or “mode of living” means an arrangement or agreement that allows conflicting parties to coexist in peace until a final settlement is reached.
Beijing continues to reject Manila’s arbitral win on the maritime dispute, but this did not hinder President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s state visit to the East Asian giant last Jan. 3 to 5, which resulted in the resumption of negotiations on the joint oil and gas exploration in the West Philippine Sea.
LIST: PH, China sign 14 bilateral deals during Marcos’ state visit
Without further explanation, such talks — which went on for three years — were terminated during the last days of the Duterte administration.
Carlos, who was replaced by former Interior Secretary Eduardo Año as national security adviser on Saturday, said Marcos’ visit was “good” for the “continuing critical dialogue” on maritime issues and concerns in the West Philippine Sea.
According to Marcos, Chinese President Xi Jinping also promised that they would find a “compromise” and solution that will allow Filipinos to fish in the area.
Fisherfolk group PAMALAKAYA stressed that China must leave Philippine waters instead and “abide by the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea that recognizes our exclusive economic zone.”
Reacting to the proposed partnership with fishing villages, PAMALAKAYA said Filipino fishers will not accept any agreement with China as they are direct victims of its aggression in the West Philippine Sea.
“We are witnesses [of] how China abuses and plunders the resources in the West Philippine Sea, and how we are being harassed in our own fishing grounds,” said PAMALAKAYA national spokesperson Ronnel Arambulo. “So how can we enter into an agreement with a country that blatantly violates our fishing rights and our national sovereignty?”
READ: Marcos, Xi agree to peacefully resolve disputes in West Philippine Sea
“The recent ruling of the Supreme Court against the Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU) should serve as a warning to the Marcos administration in entering any agreement with China that could further its presence in our territory; whether it be joint oil and gas exploration or the proposed partnership with local fishing villages,” Arambulo stressed.
Last Jan. 10, the Supreme Court declared the 2005 Tripartite Agreement for Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU) unconstitutional and void — an Arroyo-era agreement among state-owned oil companies of the Philippines, China, and Vietnam that would explore a 142,886-square kilometer area in the South China Sea.
READ: PH to consider SC ruling on void joint exploration deal in future talks with China
