DFA demands explanation from Cambodian envoy for caustic remarks

Philippine officials summoned the Cambodian ambassador but he failed to show up Tuesday to explain his published criticism of Manila's stance on its territorial disputes with China in the West Philippine Sea (also called South China Sea).

  Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said they summoned Cambodian envoy Hos Sereythonh to ask him to explain his statement blaming the Philippines and Vietnam for the failure of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to issue a joint communiqué at the end of its high-level meeting in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh this month.  

But Hernandez said Sereythonh did not show up, apparently because he was not feeling well. Instead, Sereythonh sent his deputy and embassy second secretary Tan Chandaravuth on his behalf.  

A note verbale was handed to Chandaravuth demanding that his ambassador explain his comments that appeared as a letter to the editor in the Philippine Star.

Hernandez said the DFA wanted to ask the envoy what he meant when he said that the “inflexible and non-negotiable position of two countries of ASEAN is dirty politics.”

“We want to know where the ambassador obtained the information on the events as narrated in his letter since these are not consistent with the records of the ASEAN meetings,” Hernandez told a press briefing.

The rift started two weeks ago when the ASEAN failed to issue its traditional joint statement as Cambodia, a known Chinese ally, blocked moves to mention the Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag  (Scarborough) Shoal incident between the Philippines and China in the proposed communiqué.

It was an unprecedented moment of disunity in the bloc’s 45-year history.

Vietnam also wanted to include in the document recent incidents of China’s incursions in its waters.

After the Phnom Penh meetings, Foreign Undersecretary Erlinda Basilio issued a public statement explaining that the ASEAN failed to come up with a communiqué due to Cambodia’s firm position not to reflect the recent developments in the South China Sea despite the view of the majority of the bloc’s members that these developments impinge on the overall security of the region.  

In response, the Cambodian ambassador sent a letter to the Philippine Star accusing the Philippines and also Vietnam of “sabotaging” the statement.

The Cambodian envoy’s biting criticism of the Philippines and Vietnam are the latest twist in the brewing animosity between this year’s host and Chinese ally Cambodia on the one side and Manila and Hanoi on the other over the territorial disputes that had been a divisive issue within the regional grouping.  

ASEAN groups Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.

The West Philippine Sea or South China Sea - a strategic and resource-rich waterway where more than 50 percent of the world's merchant fleet tonnage passes each year – had been a source of conflict among rival claimants China, Taiwan and ASEAN members Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei.  

Overlapping claims to the contested waters, islands and reefs, where undersea gas deposits have been discovered in several areas, has been feared to be Asia's next potential flashpoint for war. 

Hernandez challenged the Cambodian envoy to prove his allegations and to speak the truth on the outcome of the meetings in Phnom Penh.  

“As a matter of courtesy to our Cambodian friends, we will ask the ambassador if he can kindly authorize the release to the public of evidence which should end all speculation on what really happened in Phnom Penh,” Hernandez said.

He said the department will keep on summoning the Cambodian ambassador “until he is able to come to the DFA.”

“We also intend to show the Cambodian ambassador why the ASEAN chair was being viewed as unduly advancing a NON-ASEAN country’s interest, with a clear prejudice to positions of the Philippines and Vietnam, members of ASEAN,” Hernandez said. — RSJ/HS, GMA News