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Maynila-Beijing nagkasundong 'kakalmahan' alitan sa West Philippine Sea

January 18, 2024 | 1:16pm

Maynila-Beijing nagkasundong 'kakalmahan' alitan sa West Philippine Sea

This handout photo taken on December 2, 2023 and released on December 3 by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) shows an aerial view of Chinese vessels gathered by Whitsun Reef, around 320 kilometres (200 miles) west of Palawan Island, in disputed waters of the South China Sea. The Philippines said December 3 more than 135 Chinese vessels were "swarming" a reef off its coast, describing the boats' growing presence as "alarming".

Handout / Philippine Coast Guard

MANILA, Philippines — Muling nagpulong ang Pilipinas at Tsina para sa ika-8 Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea sa Shanghai — bagay na ikinasa matapos ang ilang panibagong agresibong aksyon ng Beijing sa West Philippine Sea.

Ito ang ibinahagi ng Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) sa isang pahayag nitong Miyerkules, bagay na ngayong Huwebes lang isinapubliko ng Presidential Communications Office.

"Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro and Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Nong Rong had frank and productive discussions to de-escalate the situation in the South China Sea and both sides agreed to calmly deal with incidents, if any, through diplomacy," wika ng DFA.

"They also agreed that continuous dialogue is important to keep peace and stability at sea. Both sides presented their respective positions on the Ayungin Shoal and assured each other of their mutual commitment to avoid escalation of tensions."

Ayon sa kagawaran, alinsunod ito sa naging kasunduan nina Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at Chinese President Xi Jinping sa San Francisco, USA nitong Nobyembre 2023 na pahupain ang tensyon sa South China Sea — lugar kung saan matatagpuan ang West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Ang WPS, na nasa loob ng exclusive economic zone (EEZ) ng Pilipinas, ay patuloy na inaangkin ng mga pwersa ng Tsina kahit na una nang binalewala ng Permanent Court of Arbitration ang nine-dash line claim nito.

"The Philippines and China agreed to improve maritime communication mechanism in the South China Sea. This includes communications between foreign ministries and coast guards of the two countries," dagdag pa ng DFA.

"The Philippines and China agreed to initiate talks on possible academic exchanges on marine scientific research between Filipino and Chinese scientists."

Nangyayari ang lahat ng ito ilang araw matapos buntutan ng isang Chinese vessel ang Philipine Coast Guard na nagsagawa ng rotation and resupply missions sa Kalayaan Group of Islands sa West Philippine Sea mula ika-3 hanggang ika-9 ng Enero.

Kilala ang Beijing sa pagwa-water cannon, pangle-laser, atbp. laban sa mga Pilipino sa West Philippine Sea nitong mga nagdaang buwan, bagay na umani ng pagkundena mula sa international community.

Martes lang nang ibalita ng Pulse Asia na tanging 10% lang ng mga Pilipino ang sang-ayong makipagtulungan ang bansa sa Tsina kaugnay ng tensyon sa West Philippine Sea.