Palace vows to engage China positively

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang vowed yesterday to engage China positively, saying the West Philippine Sea dispute is just a small facet in the relationship of Manila and Beijing, and that improving defense capabilities would not harm the efforts to resolve the issue peacefully.

“We continue to be committed to ensuring peace and stability in the region. And again, in connection with whatever disputes that we may have, our commitment remains firm that we will pursue every diplomatic channel, avenue, recourse that we have to be able to solve it peacefully,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said over radio dzRB.

Valte also said the Philippines’ commitment to maintain peace and stability in the West Philippine Sea through the help of allies like the United States should not worry other claimants to the area.

“That is something that we do not wish to do, given our commitment to resolve these disputes peacefully and diplomatically,” Valte explained.

Valte also welcomed the statement of the Chinese foreign ministry calling for greater efforts toward “peace and stability.”

The government’s response was in sharp contrast to the blistering editorial in the Global Times, which said Beijing should impose sanctions against the Philippines for allowing more US troops on its territory.

“We are pursuing several other relationships with them, namely, our trade, our tourism, as we have seen from the reports after the President had come back from his visit (to China last year). So this is just one portion of our relationship with China. Rest assured that our agreements, our relationships on other fronts are likewise being pursued vigorously,” Valte noted.

She reiterated that talks on the expanded presence of the US in the region are “something that is still in the early stages of discussion.”

Valte disclosed, “Nothing is final yet. We have expressed several initiatives, mainly on how to assist us to boost our defense capabilities. Again, as we stated earlier, we really do need to catch up with our neighbors when it comes to our defense capabilities.”

Meanwhile, AFP spokesman Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos pointed out that the presence of foreign troops here is in accordance with the country’s national policy.

“In terms of all the exercises (military), the presence of the US (troops), or any foreign armed forces here, are all in accordance with existing rules and regulations and policies of our government,” Burgos said.

This April, joint war games known as the RP-US Balikatan Exercises are scheduled in Palawan, specifically at the disputed West Philippine Sea.

Burgos explained the joint war games are in line with the Visiting Forces Agreement and are consistent with the country’s Mutual Defense Treaty.

At present, around 500 US servicemen are deployed in the Philippines on rotation basis yearly to attend the military drills.

Most of these US soldiers are assigned in Southern Philippines, especially in the troubled provinces of Sulu, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and in areas of the Zamboanga Peninsula.

As this developed, the US embassy turned over to the Philippine Coast Guard yesterday communications equipment worth $100,000 in support of the government’s non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and its efforts on maritime security and border control.

“Our ongoing partnership with the Philippines under the EXBS is a sign of both countries’ commitment to halting the growing threat of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems, related technologies, and advanced conventional weapons,” US embassy Charge d’ Affaires Leslie Bassett said in a statement. – With Jaime Laude