'Frank dialogue will help achieve peaceful resolution of Panatag dispute'

MANILA, Philippines - The defense attaché of the Chinese embassy said on Tuesday that a “frank dialogue” will help achieve a peaceful resolution of the territorial dispute and resumption of friendly relations between the Philippines and China.

Air Force Senior Col. Chen Fangming said Chinese Defense Minister General Liang Guanglie and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin reached a three-point consensus on Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal and the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers Meeting in Cambodia last May.

Gazmin and his Chinese counterpart agreed to keep the communication lines open while the two countries were facing “difficulties.” The consensus, Chen said, provided that each side should restrain words and actions, avoid potential escalation of the issue, keep the door open for communication and seek good solutions.

“I am confident that if we try our best to make frank dialogue rather than monologue, we could find good solutions to disputes and resume our friendly relations,” Chen said during a reception at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel to mark the 85th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

The outgoing defense attaché assured his audience that China’s rise does not pose any threat, saying that peaceful development is the Chinese national policy.

Chen noted that China’s national policy is “defensive in nature” and that its military is a “force of peace defender and promoter.”

According to Chen, China will not adopt the approach of military expansion now or in the future, no matter how its economy develops.”

“So our national policy determines that our defense policy is defensive in nature and our armed forces is a force of peace defender and promoter,” Chen said. 

“The size of our defense expenditure adheres to the principle of coordinated development of national defense and economic development. I know there are various perceptions about China’s rise. Therefore, we need more frank communication and dialogue, which requires mindful listening and speak with empathy.”

For his part, Gazmin said the presence of Philippine officials during the occasion “manifests our commitment to keep the lines of communication open between our defense establishments as agreed upon during my bilateral meeting with Defense Minister Liang Guanglie.”

“I believe that our governments, our people, and our armed forces have enough goodwill which we should all utilize to further our bilateral relations amidst these difficult times,” Gazmin said.