DFA: China, PH stress need for dialogue, mutual respect

The Philippines and China have emphasized the need to maintain diplomatic dialogue and mutual respect despite their differences, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said on Wednesday.

Lazaro spoke with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi following a series of heated verbal exchanges between officials of Manila and Beijing. The exchanges stemmed from Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan’s apparent veiled threat against the country.

“I had a telephone call with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi this afternoon and had a frank and constructive discussion on the direction of Philippines-China relations," Lazaro said in a post on X.

Both sides emphasized the need for continued diplomatic dialogue and the proper management of differences anchored on mutual respect,” she added.

In a separate statement, the DFA provided further details of the conversation, saying the two officials discussed the state of bilateral relations at length.

The call was frank, pragmatic and constructive, the DFA said.

Both officials recognized the importance of sustaining diplomatic engagement, avoiding actions and rhetoric that could heighten tensions, and resolving disputes peacefully.

The DFA said relations between the two countries should be sustained through high-level exchanges, ministry-to-ministry channels, and appropriate bilateral and regional mechanisms.

Lazaro also conveyed to Wang that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. looked forward to the participation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang in the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Manila.

Wang, meanwhile, said China anticipated Marcos' participation in the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Shenzhen, China.

“The discussion also covered other matters of concern, including maritime issues, but focused on returning the relationship to an even keel and on upholding the 1975 Joint Communiqué, which remains the enduring basis of Philippines-China cooperation and of the Philippines’ One China Policy,” the DFA said.

Tensions between Manila and Beijing flared anew after Quan said China would easily win in a fight over the West Philippine Sea. Several Philippine officials subsequently urged Marcos to declare the Chinese envoy persona non grata over his remarks.

The latest diplomatic tensions came amid longstanding territorial and maritime disputes between the two countries over the West Philippine Sea, which China continues to claim largely as its own.

The tensions have prompted several Philippine business groups to call on both countries to exercise restraint.

In a joint statement, business organizations, including the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), and Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FFCCII), urged Philippine and Chinese officials to renew diplomatic dialogue.

The DFA welcomed the business groups' appeal, describing it as a constructive contribution to efforts to manage bilateral differences.

“The DFA has consistently maintained that diplomacy, dialogue, and mutually beneficial practical cooperation can be pursued without compromising the assertion and protection of the country’s sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction," the DFA said.

This approach provides the foundation for a stable and predictable relationship with China,” it added. — MCG, GMA News

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