Recto, Chinese envoy tackle energy, SCS issues

MANILA, Philippines —  Increasing direct flights, combatting transnational crimes and addressing the current energy situation were among the issues tackled by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto during his meeting with Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan at Malacañang on Tuesday.

“During the courtesy call, the ambassador noted resumption of dialogues aimed at enhancing bilateral relations. Ambassador Jing hoped that more visits would happen this year to send positive signals about the bilateral relations,” the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) said in a statement released yesterday.

According to Recto’s office, both countries discussed tourism, people-to-people exchanges, more direct flights between Philippine and Chinese cities, the fight against transnational crimes, the current energy situation and overall economic relations.
They also tackled in brief the Philippines’ chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) Summit this year and China’s chairmanship of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, also this year.

The two countries “expressed the hope for mutual support for these events,” the OES said.
Earlier, Malacañang stressed that “no interest will be lost” in the possible joint oil and gas exploration between Manila and Beijing in the disputed South China Sea.

In a recent interview with Bloomberg, President Marcos has raised the possibility that the US and Israeli war against Iran could provide an “impetus” for the Philippines and China to reach a deal in jointly developing oil and gas resources in the disputed waters.

China is claiming almost the entire South China Sea, ignoring the 2016 Arbitral Award that is based on international law.

Philippines Germany talks

Meanwhile, the Philippines and Germany held the 6th Political Consultations between the two countries on Tuesday and exchanged views on global and regional developments.

The two sides exchanged views on the Philippines’ chairmanship of ASEAN, the situation in the Indo-Pacific, South China Sea, Europe and the Middle East.

The meeting at the Department of Foreign Affairs also took stock of the bilateral relations between the Philippines and Germany, covering issues such as defense and security, trade and investment, climate change, migration of skilled workers and consular affairs.

The Philippines and Germany have a defense cooperation agreement, and Germany participates as an observer in the Balikatan exercises.

It is the biggest trading and investment partner of the Philippines among the European Union member-states.

Germany is also home to an estimated 45,000 Filipinos.

In ASEAN, Germany has been a Development Partner since 2016. It has also been a consistent voice for the rule of law and a rules-based international order.

Leading the Philippine and German delegations were DFA Assistant Secretary for European Affairs Deena Joy Amatong and Federal Foreign Office Director General for Asia and the Pacific Frank Hartmann, respectively. Philippine Ambassador to Germany Maria Teresa Almojuela and German Ambassador Andreas Pfaffernoschke also joined their respective delegations.

Continued vigilance

At the same time, the Philippines called for the continued vigilance of the international community against efforts to undermine international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the legally binding South China Sea Arbitral Award.

In his statement delivered before delegates of the 9th Indian Ocean Conference on Friday, DFA Maritime Affairs and Oceans Office Deputy Assistant Secretary and spokesman for maritime affairs Rogelio Villanueva Jr. highlighted the UNCLOS and the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award as the twin anchors of the country’s foreign policy.

Speaking before more than 300 participants from 33 countries in Balaclava, Mauritius, Villanueva stressed the interconnectedness of the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea and the regions’ shared responsibilities in upholding freedom of navigation and adhering to the rules-based order under international law.  – Pia Lee-Brago