MANILA – The Philippines and China agreed to discuss their maritime and territorial dispute “in an atmosphere of openness and cordiality” as Manila raised the unlawful entry of Chinese vessels in Philippine waters during a bilateral consultative meeting on Friday.The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement on Saturday that the two countries held the sixth meeting of the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea online.
“The Philippines reiterated its long-standing call for full respect and adherence to international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) and its authoritative interpretation and application — the final and binding 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award,” the DFA statement read.
China has repeatedly refused to honor the arbitral award, which recognized Manila’s sovereignty and sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea and invalidated Beijing’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea.
‘CANDID EXCHANGES’
“The two sides had friendly and candid exchanges on the general situation and specific issues of concern in the South China Sea,” the statement said.
“There was mutual recognition of the importance of dialogue in easing tensions and understanding each country’s position and intentions in the area,” it added.
The DFA said Philippine officials, led by Foreign Acting Undersecretary Elizabeth Buensuceso, also raised anew the “settlement” of the near-fatal sinking of Philippine fishing boat Gem-Vir 1 off Recto (Reed) Bank in June 2019.
‘JUST COMPENSATION’
The Department of Justice (DOJ), it added, would lead the negotiations next month in securing a “just compensation” for the Filipino fishermen who were left for dead after their fishing boat was rammed by a Chinese trawler.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra had previously said that the owner and crew members of the Gem-Ver 1 had demanded P12 million in compensation for the boat’s sinking, which President Duterte described as a “little maritime accident.”
According to the foreign office, the Philippines and China emphasized the significance of the “full and effective implementation” of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and reiterated their commitment in coming up with “an effective and substantive” Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.
The DFA said officials belonging to the three separate working groups of the bilateral mechanism—political and security, fisheries cooperation, and marine environmental protection and marine scientific research—talked about matters in their areas of competence.
But the DFA statement did not specify which issues were discussed during the online meeting hosted by the Philippines.
“Undersecretary Buensuceso stressed the importance of other complementary bilateral and multilateral platforms in maintaining regional peace and stability,” the DFA said. (©Philippine Daily Inquirer 2021)
