PBBM: Premises of China’s proposals on sea row questionable

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday stated that Manila did not outright dismiss China’s proposals regarding the management of escalated tensions in the West Philippine Sea, but emphasized that Beijing’s suggestions were founded on a questionable premise.

“We have not rejected any proposals that China has made to us, but the premise is something that we question. The premise that China has made is that their territory follows what is now described as a 10-dash line,” Marcos said at a joint briefing with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. 

“That is not recognized by any country, any international body, certainly not by the Philippines,” Marcos added. 

China asserts sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea, encompassing waters and islands situated to the west of the Philippines. Despite a 2016 ruling by an international tribunal that declared China’s claims lacking legal validity, Beijing has chosen to disregard this decision.

“Our baselines have been well established for years now. We have the economic zone that China has already intruded upon. And until that premise that China has made in terms of all its discussions with the Philippines, then it’s very difficult to see a way forward,” Marcos said.

The president’s reaction followed an accusation from a Chinese official, who claimed that the 11 concept papers put forward by Beijing in April 2023 “remained unaddressed by the Marcos administration.”

In a statement released on Tuesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) stated that several of China’s suggestions were deemed “inconsistent with our national interests.”

The DFA remarked that one of the proposals put forward by Beijing “insisted on actions that would be deemed as acquiescence or recognition of China’s control and administration over the Ayungin Shoal as China’s territory.”

Rules-based order

During Marcos’s three-day visit to Berlin, the Philippines and Germany reiterated their dedication to advancing a rule-based international order. 

“As like-minded partners, we reaffirmed our commitment promoting the rules-based international order, extending our commitment beyond our own regions to contribute to the broader global community,” Marcos said. 

Scholz emphasized the significance of adhering to international laws, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

“I believe it to be important to each and every one, adheres to the legislation in place. We’ve talked about this today, as I said, and I made it clear that we support the Philippines in ensuring that the rights are being protected,” Scholz said. 

In recent months, tensions between Manila and Beijing regarding the West Philippine Sea have heightened.

Just last week, the Philippines disclosed that the China Coast Guard and Chinese maritime militia vessels engaged in actions described as harassment, obstruction, and maneuvers aimed at illegally impeding a resupply mission to troops stationed at BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.