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The Philippines is now coordinating with several countries for the continuation of negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Monday.
At the briefing on the 2021 budget of 21.9 billion pesos for the DFA and its attached agencies, Foreign Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. said that the Philippines will not adopt what China wants, as “we believe in the balance of power “in negotiating the code.
He said China had demanded that western powers be excluded from the South China Sea.
“We are now negotiating a code of conduct with all these countries involved on how we treat each other when we have our respective economic zones,” he said.
“With that code, I don’t think we renounce any sovereignty. It is just how we will behave in this situation in which you have different rights, the economic zone, the arbitration award, “he added.
Currently, Locsin said that the Philippines has eight items built in the disputed territories, while other claimants have multiple numbers: China has 27, Taiwan has one, Vietnam has 21, and Malaysia has 5.
“I don’t think we have active conflicts with Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan. . . . [but] China is claiming everything in the South China Sea, “he added.
He said China is sending its forces to make its claim tangible or real, and “we are obligated to preserve our claim.”
Earlier, Locsin, in a statement, reiterated the Philippines’ commitment to advance negotiations towards an effective and substantive COC in the South China Sea.
The Philippines’ top diplomat highlighted the completion of the first reading of the single draft of the COC negotiating text (SDNT) and the beginning of the second reading of the SDNT last year.
While noting that the Covid-19 outbreak and the consequent restrictions on travel and movement prevented scheduled face-to-face meetings, Locsin encouraged other ASEAN member states and China to resume discussions.
“As a law-abiding community of nations, we emphasize that disputes must be resolved peacefully in accordance with international law, including the 1982 Unclos,” he said.
“It is imperative that everyone return to the negotiating table to show the world that we are sincerely committed and determined to reach a conclusive result, one way or another; but we must put ourselves to work with sincerity and seriousness, “he added.
