LOOK: PH officials hold dialogue with Chinese envoy

Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro and Senate Foreign Relations panel chairman Erwin Tulfo on Monday met with Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan, following the heated exchange between officials from Manila and Beijing. 

According to Tulfo’s office, the officials “engaged in a dialogue focused on maintaining open communication lines between the Philippines and China through diplomatic channels.”

The senator said that he had a productive meeting with the Chinese ambassador, noting that both parties agreed that in order to further advance the relations between Philippines and China, diplomatic meetings should continue rather than engaging in public exchanges.

“Ang napag-usapan namin is ‘yung they are very excited din do’n sa Code of Conduct na tinatapos between China at ASEAN countries—Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines and Brunei. So hopefully by December matatapos na ‘yun so meron tayong Code of Conduct,” Tulfo told Senate reporters in an ambush interview. 

(What they told us was that they are very excited about the Code of Conduct that is being finalized between China and ASEAN countries—Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines and Brunei. So hopefully by December that will be finished so that we can have a Code of Conduct.) 

“Tapos isa pa, by end of March, pabalik na rito ‘yung Memorandum of Understanding between the Philippine Coast Guard and Chinese Coast Guard na instead na magbanatan sila doon sa West Philippine Sea, magkaroon na lang ng cooperation like patrol, search and rescue, clean up. ‘Yun ‘yung nabanggit ni Ambassador Jing,” he added. 

(Another thing is by the end of March, the Memorandum of Understanding between the Philippine Coast Guard and Chinese Coast Guard will return. Instead of our officials fighting over the West Philippine Sea, they are expected to cooperate in matters like patrol, search and rescue, and clean up. That's what Ambassador Jing mentioned.) 

The Senate earlier adopted a resolution, denouncing statements by the Chinese Embassy against Filipino government officials who criticized Beijing’s aggressive actions in the disputed South China Sea.

But China condemned the resolution which it described as “anti-China,” saying that it was nothing but a political stunt.

The embassy also alleged that some Philippine legislators repeatedly resort to threats and intimidation against Chinese diplomats, and that they knew “little about how diplomacy works” in criticizing Beijing.

Senators, on the other hand, maintained that they will neither be cowed nor silenced after the Chinese Embassy in Manila criticized the resolution that was adopted. 

“‘Yung pagdating doon sa resolution ng Senate, wala naman daw siyang (Ambassador Jing) magagawa doon. I mean, karapatan ng Senado ‘yun, ng mga senador na sumagot. ‘Yun lang ‘yung napag-usapan namin,” Tulfo said. 

(Regarding the Senate resolution, Ambassador Jing said there was nothing he could do about it. I mean, that's the right of the Senate, of the senators to respond to them. That's all we discussed.) 

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations also expressed belief that the exchanges between the Chinese Embassy and Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela have died down. 

“Mukhang tumahimik naman na these past few days. Tapos napansin naman natin, wala nang sagutan between us at sa grupo ng Chinese Embassy. And napansin ko rin do’n sa isang media release ni Commodore Tarriela na natakpan na ‘yung mukha ni Chinese President Xi. So I guess wala naman silang reklamo na,” Tulfo said. 

(It seems that it has become quiet these past few days. We also noticed that there were no exchanges between our officials and the Chinese Embassy personnel. I also noticed that in a media release by Commodore Tarriela, the face of Chinese President Xi was already covered. So I guess they have no complaints anymore.) —AOL/RF, GMA Integrated News