The Philippines, China’s new ally in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, was the one that removed the word “reclamation” from the joint communique issued by the regional body on the issue of conflicting claims in the South China Sea or West Philippine Sea.
Stressing that he does not want to “shame” China, as Asean’s dialogue partner, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said he disregarded the issue on reclamation in the joint communique because China has allegedly “stopped” building structures in the vital waterway, and has allowed the Filipino fishermen to fish in its own sea within the 200 nautical miles of its exclusive economic zone.
“I did not want to include it. It was not reflective of the situation. They’re not reclaiming land anymore, there are reclamations in the past and have not started reclaiming again, and there is a general statement [from the Chinese], so I accepted it,” Cayetano said.
The majority of the 10-member regional bloc decided not to include “reclamation” in the joint statement as well, the secretary added.
“We cannot compromise freedom of navigation, overflight and international law. I had a hand on what to put there, so I told my staff it does not matter what to put or not to put in the zero draft. What is important is what the majority wants, in fact it’s more than [what the] majority [wants],” Cayetano said.
The issue of the South China Sea has long been the most divisive issue for the 10-member bloc, with the Philippines, this year’s host country, shifting its allegiance to Beijing, and leaving Vietnam alone to assert its territorial rights in the disputed waters.
On Saturday, Asean failed to issue the customary group statement due to the disagreement about whether to make oblique or direct references to China’s rapid expansion of its defense capabilities on artificial islands in the disputed waters.
It was reported that China is “sensitive” for Asean to mention its seven reclaimed reefs in the area. However, the joint statement released on Sunday expressed a stronger position than an earlier unpublished draft.
It said that after extensive discussions, concerns were voiced by some members about land reclamation “and activities in the area which have eroded trust and confidence, increased tension and may undermine peace, security and stability.”
Meanwhile, the Philippines and the Russian Federation have decided to speed up negotiations on various bilateral agreements that would boost Manila’s ongoing campaign against terrorism, drug trafficking and criminality.
Cayetano disclosed this following his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers Meeting at the Philippine International Convention Center on Monday.
“Minister Lavrov and I both agreed to fast-track negotiations for pending bilateral agreements, particularly on military-technical cooperation, illegal narcotics, and law enforcement,” Cayetano said.
He also expressed Manila’s appreciation for Moscow’s support and its offer of assistance to improve the capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police in dealing with the threat posed by Islamic State-affiliated terrorist groups operating in Mindanao.
“Russia’s offer to assist is of vital importance to the Philippines, especially given its great expertise, vast experience and modern equipment in dealing with terrorism and other security concerns,” Cayetano said.
During their meeting, Cayetano said Lavrov requested him to convey to President Rodrigo Duterte Moscow’s “solidarity with his efforts to eliminate any extremist threat to your country and our appreciation for your solidarity with Russia’s fight against terrorism.”
“We believe terrorism is something that must unite all of us,” Cayetano quoted Lavrov as saying, after he was told about ongoing efforts to prevent the Islamic extremist threat from spreading to the rest of the Philippines.
Cayetano said he thanked Minister Lavrov for the offer of the Russian Ministry for Civil Defense, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters to send a cargo aircraft carrying relief assistance for displaced families in Marawi.
Cayetano said Manila intends to continue pursuing what he described as the “irreversible momentum” in Philippine-Russia relations resulting from the independent foreign policy being implemented by the Duterte administration.