Phl to China: Match words with action

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang welcomed yesterday China’s vow to ensure freedom of navigation in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) but stressed that words must be backed by actions.

News reports said Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi told visiting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Beijing that China was also willing to work on a code of conduct to manage sea disputes.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said yesterday that they were waiting for the transcript of the press conference of Clinton and Yang, but noted the Philippine position had always been that ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) centrality must be maintained in drafting the code of conduct in the West Philippine Sea.

“My understanding is China is willing to work with ASEAN in the drafting of the code…Certainly, words that would give assurances are always welcome. And, also, it would be more welcome if it is followed through by concrete actions towards the fulfillment of those words,” Lacierda said.

Manila insists that the West Philippine Sea dispute will have be resolved multilaterally as against China’s position that it should be bilateral.

In Cambodia last April, the Philippines asked that ASEAN to come up with a code first before discussing it with China during a leaders’ summit.

In April, the Philippines and China had a standoff at Panatag Shoal as Chinese government vessels prevented Philippine authorities from arresting Chinese fishermen caught poaching in the country’s internal waters.

China had objected the move to include the dispute in ASEAN talks and was reported to have influenced Cambodia, the current ASEAN chair, not to mention anything about the Panatag standoff in the joint statement of foreign ministers during the meeting in Phnom Penh last July. This was first time it happened in the history of ASEAN.

China had also been reportedly increasing its presence in the disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea by building more structures. It even established a local government to cover disputed areas in the Kalayaan Island Group or Spratlys.

On Wednesday, Lacierda said the US’s renewed call for ASEAN to come up with a stand on the West Philippine Sea dispute was a good development and consistent with the Philippine position.

Lacierda said they would neither consider the US statement as an expression of concern nor an act of intrusion.

“It’s always a position that we have taken – that in resolving issues that involve the ASEAN, ASEAN centrality must be first and foremost in resolving all issues that have ASEAN concerns,” he said.

Lacierda also said it would be up to the Department of Foreign Affairs to confirm the meeting between President Aquino and Chinese President Hu Jintao on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Russia this weekend.

“They’re (DFA officials) the ones dealing with their counterparts in the Chinese Foreign Ministry. We have no specific details yet,” Lacierda said.

Asked if the government is expecting a breakthrough, Lacierda said he could not say anything for now.

“That depends really on what the substance of the discussions will be,” Lacierda said, in case the meeting between the two leaders would push through. – With Pia Lee Brago