Philippines, US discuss reinforcing cooperation

MANILA, Philippines —  US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke yesterday with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo about the ongoing tensions in the South China Sea as the two top diplomats exchanged ideas on how to reinforce bilateral cooperation in the coming year.

“Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke today with Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo about issues of mutual concern, including ongoing tensions in the South China Sea,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement.

“Secretary Blinken underscored the United States’ ironclad commitments to the Philippines under our Mutual Defense Treaty,” he said.

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said “Secretary Manalo reaffirmed the Philippines’ abiding interest to protect its sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction, while maintaining peace and security and upholding the international rules-based order.”

Manalo emphasized the importance of open lines of communication and dialogue with other parties in pursuit of these objectives.

“Secretary Manalo and Secretary Blinken acknowledged the robust Philippines-United States alliance and bilateral relations, as well as discussed important opportunities for further strengthening cooperation in 2024,” the DFA said.

The phone call between Blinken and Manalo was held days after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned the Philippines to “act with caution.”

During the Dec. 20 phone call that China initiated, Wang also warned Manalo that the Philippine-China ties are now “facing serious difficulties.”

The Philippines, United States and Japan vowed to strengthen trilateral efforts in defense and security capabilities to “maintain a free and open maritime order” following the latest unsafe operational behavior by Chinese military ships against Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea.

During the encounters, the Chinese vessels employed water cannons and forced a collision which caused damage to Philippine vessels undertaking official supply missions. Chinese military ships operating near Bajo de Masinloc also used acoustic devices to incapacitate Filipino crew members.

The international community condemned China’s “dangerous and unlawful” actions at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal and Bajo de Masinloc, also called Panatag Shoal or Scarborough Shoal, in the West Philippine Sea and called out Beijing for interfering in lawful Philippine maritime operations.

They called on Beijing anew to abide by the legally binding July 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling and desist from further provocative behavior.

Options for the Philippines

With several options available for the Philippines, a maritime law expert recommended to the government the filing of another case against China before an international tribunal for encroaching on Philippine territories and undertaking illegal activities in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Professor Jay Batongbacal, director of the University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, said nothing is preventing the Philippines from pursuing a court case against China under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

In an interview on “The Way Forward” public affairs show hosted by lawyer-journalist Karen Jimeno on Dec. 27, Batongbacal said that UNCLOS established three institutions where a state may seek refuge to address its grievance against another state: the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea, International Seabed Authority and the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS).

“The use of these international tribunals to assert our rights in international law is a way of gaining leverage, especially moral and political leverage, which is very important in international relations,” Batongbacal said.

He explained that there are several options available for the government to take to reaffirm its territorial sovereignty in the WPS.

“We have several other options. Everything from fact finding to calling on China to make a report before the international community, to lobbying with international organizations. This is something that the government should consider even before deciding on whether or not to file a case,” he said.