EDITORIAL - A ‘compromise solution’

Returning from his first state visit to China, President Marcos considered it a “good start” that Chinese President Xi Jinping promised to find a “compromise… a solution” that will allow Filipinos to fish unimpeded in the West Philippine Sea. The two presidents also agreed to open direct communication lines to prevent miscalculations in the South China Sea.

It wasn’t exactly the bacon that President Marcos was expected to bring home. The Chinese are renowned for moving at a leisurely pace when it comes to acting on controversial issues, and it could take a hundred years before the “compromise” is reached on the fishing grounds. Filipino fishermen’s groups had hoped for a more solid commitment from Xi that Chinese vessels would stay out of the West Philippine Sea.

Filipino fishermen have long complained of being driven away from their traditional fishing grounds in the WPS by swarms of large fishing boats backed by Chinese coast guard vessels. The swarms typically consist of about 200 vessels that encroach on the Philippines’ 200-mile maritime exclusive economic zone. The Chinese coast guard is under its military command.

Beijing has been standing firm in its refusal to accept the 2016 ruling of the United Nations-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which invalidated China’s entire nine-dash-line claim over nearly all of the South China Sea. The arbitral ruling also awarded the Philippines sovereign rights specifically over Panganiban (Mischief) Reef, Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal and Recto (Reed) Bank.

It is unclear if President Marcos directly raised the arbitral ruling with his Chinese counterpart – something that Rodrigo Duterte, an avowed admirer of Xi Jinping, did during his presidency.

Arriving from Beijing yesterday, Marcos merely said he and Xi agreed that maritime disputes “do not comprise the entirety of our relations.” But President Marcos said he also mentioned that such disputes pose significant concerns for the entire region and must be resolved peacefully.

It was just a getting-to-know you event, and President Marcos said it was likely that there would be more such meetings and exchanges of visits between him and the Chinese leader. In terms of building goodwill, the state visit has been a success. Promoting the welfare of Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea, however, will need a more aggressive follow-through.