Manila Philippines — During the House Committee on Appropriations hearing of the proposed funds of the Department of Foreign (DFA) for the fiscal year 2025, the lawmaker seeks Philippines position regarding the continues disputes in the highly contested territory in the West Philippine Sea.
House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Partylist Representative France Castro questioned whether such a provisional understanding between the Philippines and China covers Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea.
The DFA replied that the provisional understanding are still subject to amendments, so the Philippine government hopes that China will follow these agreement.
DFA official said that none of the Philippine territory is affected by any kind of position of the Philippines in the disputed area.
“The salient points of the provisional arrangement are basically, [first], this is without prejudice to our national positions… Second, this will be subject to review,” said DFA Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro during the hearing.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo also defended the latest flare release by the People’s Liberation Army – Air Force of China which clearly imposes risks to the Philippine troops.
Manalo asserted that the Philippines will remain in compliance with diplomatic and peaceful means of resolving the issue in the South China Sea, based on the declaration of international laws.
The DFA is always open to any discussions with the Chinese government regarding China’s ongoing harassment and illegal activities in the West Philippine Sea.
“We have what we call a bilateral consultation mechanism in the South China Sea with China and that meets regularly every few months. Any incident that happens in WPS which we feel is detrimental to our interests caused by China, we, of course, will raise it,” Manalo added.
The provisional arrangement is part of the bilateral consultation mechanism between the Philippines and China.
This is also part of the dialogue between the DFA of the Philippines and their counterpart in China to resolve and lessen the tensions in the South China Sea.
The more recent bilateral consultation mechanism between Beijing and Manila happened this July which both country asserted their position in the South China Sea claims.