PH, China hold critical talks on South China Sea today

The Philippines and China will hold the next round of bilateral dialogues in Manila today in a bid to manage the dispute in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea).

The government is expected

to raise concerns about China’s reclamation works in the contested territory during the second bilateral consultation mechanism (BCM) to be attended by representatives from both foreign ministries.

“We are not being soft on China. There are ongoing bilateral talks as far as contentious South China Sea issues are concerned,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said during a Palace press briefing.

“The purpose of this BCM is to discuss issues of concern to either side and cooperation in the South China Sea and identify mutually-acceptable approaches toward addressing these issues,” he added.

Asked if the government will raise China’s reclamation activities during the bilateral talks, Roque said: “All these issues relevant to South China Sea are being discussed in this mechanism.”

On whether the BCM was an exercise of futility due to China’s continued military buildup, Roque said: “No, it’s being discussed seriously in the BCM.”

Roque noted that the government has protested not only China’s building of artificial islands but also the alleged militarization of these lands in the disputed territory. “Therefore contrary to claims of critics, we have long protested the military use of the artificial islands in the South China Sea,” he said.

Roque said Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Enrique Manalo is expected to lead the country’s delegation to the bilateral dialogue with China. Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou will be the head of the party from Beijing.

“The second meeting of this Philippine-China bilateral consultation mechanism on the South China Sea will be held in Manila tomorrow, Feb. 13,” he said.

The first bilateral meeting on the South China Sea was held in Guiyang, Guizhou Province in China last May 19, 2017.

The bilateral consultation mechanism on the South China Sea was established following President Duterte’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to China in October 2016.