Cayetano: PHL-China bilateral talks ongoing; diplomatic approach to be used

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday said bilateral talks between the Philippines and China are being conducted, and the government will continue to use the diplomatic approach amid China's alleged incursions into Philippine territory.

Cayetano, in a briefing before he left for Korea for an official visit, said the diplomatic approach includes a diplomatic protest by way of a written note verbale.

A note verbale was recently filed by the Department of Foreign Affairs against China for an incident at Ayungin Shoal, Super Radyo dzBB reported.

Tropa ng militar, muling brinaso ng Chinese Navy at Chinese Coastguard sa Ayungin Shoal; DFA, nakapaghain na ng protesta ukol sa insidente. #SuperBalitaSaUmaga

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) June 2, 2018

Cayetano said the government has been transparent but cannot divulge all diplomatic actions.

Magdalo party-list Representative Gary Alejano on Wednesday reported that Chinese coast guard personnel harassed anew the Philippine military forces in the West Philippine Sea. He also said the Philippines lost control over Sandy Cay, a part of the Pag-asa Island network of sandbars and reefs, during the Duterte administration.

President Rodrigo Duterte has expressed concern over the safety of Filipino troops who were reportedly harassed by the Chinese navy while on a re-supply mission in Ayungin Shoal in May, a source privy to the discussions told GMA News Online.

Addressing critics, Cayetano said on Friday that if it can be proven that a grain of sand or even a square inch of Philippine territory or sovereign rights was lost, he will not only resign but will not run for office anymore or aspire to be appointed to a government post.

The Foreign Affairs secretary said the Duterte administration strategy is different from that of the previous administration.

If the previous administration preferred to announce every move—which he called "loud action"—to get the support of other nations, the present administration would rather have bilateral talks.

In fact, there have already been three bilateral talks held so far, Cayetano said.

He said they are looking at a comprehensive approach to foreign policy.

In forming a relationship with China, the government is thinking of the fishermen, tourists, trade and investment, and other countries with claims in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea), he said.

Cayetano said the Duterte administration's strategy is effective and will yield good results for the country.

He added that the Philippines' stand did not change; only the approach did.

Cayetano said there have been developments in the bilateral talks. In fact, in a meeting with the Chinese ambassador and the director general of their maritime forces, they were able to talk about joint development projects in the South China Sea. They were joined in that meeting by representatives from the Philippines' Department of Energy, academe, and oil and gas industry.

"What we want to do is to look at the bigger picture of the whole relationship and to be fair to China, it's not one way. They've been also listening to us. And there's been a big development," Cayetano said.

He added that China is surprised at the criticisms hurled against them when in fact bilateral talks are ongoing.

Cayetano said he told the Chinese officials that it has become an emotional issue, and that the Philippines has a vibrant democracy and the media's role is to report on both sides.

He also said that he told the Chinese ambassador that the Philippines is consulting foreign independent objective experts on issues about the West Philippine Sea, South China Sea, and United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Cayetano said this might not be favorable to China but the Philippines is doing it so that the country's rights will be protected should joint development projects with China push through.

Fisheries

The Foreign Affairs secretary said fisheries was also discussed in the last meeting with Chinese officials.

Cayetano said assurance was made in the meeting that no fisherman—whether Filipino, Chinese, or Vietnamese—has taken endangered species from the waters of South China Sea.

He added that they are developing a mechanism among the Philippine military, Philippine Coast Guard and Chinese maritime forces to identify the areas for fishing. —KG, GMA News