PH, China eye coast guard agreement under bilateral consultative mechanism

Metro Manila, Philippines - The Philippines and China are working toward a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between their respective coast guards, which is expected to address operational issues and help prevent incidents in the West Philippine Sea, the country’s top diplomat said Tuesday.

During a Senate hearing on the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) proposed 2026 budget, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said the two countries continue to review and refine their discussions under the Bilateral Consultative Mechanism on the South China Sea (BCM) — a platform that allows Manila and Beijing to manage disputes and maintain communication amid rising maritime tensions.

Lazaro said the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the China Coast Guard (CCG) are looking to finalize a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on coast guard cooperation.

“Hopefully, there will be a conclusion between the Philippine Coast Guard and the Chinese Coast Guard, an MOU for them on certain issues that involve both sides,” she added.

The 10th meeting of the BCM was held on Jan. 16, 2025, in Xiamen, Fujian Province, where both sides held what officials described as “frank and constructive” talks on the South China Sea and broader Philippine-China relations.

According to the DFA, the Philippine position during the meeting remained “firm and consistent,” while Manila underscored its commitment to continued engagement and dialogue. The government said it believes that despite ongoing challenges and differences, there remains genuine space for pragmatic cooperation with China.

During that meeting, the two sides also exchanged views on the provisional understanding covering the Philippines’ rotation and reprovisioning (RORE) missions to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal. Both acknowledged that the arrangement had helped de-escalate tensions in the area, though they reaffirmed that it did not prejudice their respective national positions.

Lazaro said discussions continue under this framework, which remains one of the few channels of communication still functioning between Manila and Beijing despite repeated incidents involving Chinese vessels in Philippine waters.

The Philippines is expected to host the next round of BCM talks later this year. The meeting is expected to include discussions on the recent incident at Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), where Chinese vessels were again involved in an encounter with Philippine ships.

The BCM, established in 2017, serves as a bilateral platform for dialogue to manage tensions in the South China Sea. While it does not settle sovereignty issues, it enables the two sides to discuss incidents, exchange information, and propose mechanisms to reduce the risk of conflict.