A “paradigm shift” is needed in how the Philippines approaches the South China Sea issue, as diplomatic efforts with Beijing were headed “in a poor direction,” Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said in an interview with Mainichi Shimbun on Saturday, parts of which were shared with Philippine media on Monday.
China is disregarding traditional diplomatic efforts, a presidential palace release said.
“To this point, we have resorted to the traditional methods of diplomacy ... but we have been doing this for many years now, with very little progress,” said Marcos, who was in Japan for Tokyo’s commemorative summit with ASEAN.
Photo: Reuters
“It’s time that the countries that feel that they have an involvement in this situation, we have to come up with a paradigm shift,” Marcos said, while reiterating that the Philippines wants to avoid violent conflict.
He added his government would continue talking to its partners and come up with a joint position stating their responsibilities as far as the West Philippines Sea is concerned.
The Philippines refers to the part of South China Sea within its exclusive economic zone as the West Philippines Sea.
Manila and Beijing last week traded accusations over a ship collision near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea as tensions over claims in the vital waterway escalate.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that recent incidents were “entirely caused” by the Philippines, but that maritime disputes do not depict the “whole story” of both nation’s relations.
Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin (汪文斌) yesterday told a regular news conference that China is willing to properly manage differences through dialogue and consultation.
“We will not close the door to dialogue and contact with the Philippines,” he said when asked about Marcos’ comments.
In addition to the Philippines, Taiwan and ASEAN members Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei have overlapping claims with China in parts of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than US$3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 said China’s claims had no legal basis, a ruling the US supports, but Beijing rejects.
There was no immediate comment from the Chinese embassy in Manila.
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