PH to raise South China Sea issues in next talks with China – DFA Chief

Metro Manila, Philippines – Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro said the Philippines will bring up South China Sea concerns, including recent incidents in Scarborough Shoal, during its next round of talks with China, though no date has been set.

“The issues on the bilateral consultative mechanism always discuss everything on the South China Sea, and this is the mechanism that really works because this is the channel of communication,” Lazaro told reporters on the sidelines of the Asia Society Philippines’ forum together with ambassadors from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Asked about a possible new diplomatic protest on the recent incidents in Scarborough Shoal, Lazaro said: “Wala pa, wala pa.”

[Translation: None yet, none yet.]

The Philippines is set to host the next Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea, a dialogue platform established in 2017 to help manage tensions. The last meeting, the 10th round, was held Jan. 16 in Xiamen, Fujian province, the hometown of many Chinese Filipinos.

At that session, Lazaro and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong held what officials described as frank and constructive discussions on maritime disputes and other bilateral issues.

The two sides reviewed a provisional understanding on the Philippines’ rotation and resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal and agreed to continue its implementation to ease tensions.

The January meeting also produced agreements to strengthen coast guard cooperation and explore marine scientific research, including ocean meteorology.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has stressed that Manila will continue to pursue peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue while asserting the country’s sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea.