The Philippines and China agreed to resume discussions in Beijing this month following a series of confrontations in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
This development comes as tensions between the two countries continue to escalate in the contested waters.
Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo confirmed that the next round of the Bilateral Consultations Mechanism (BCM), where territorial disputes are discussed, will take place in China later this month.
Manalo stated that he remains “hopeful” that in the upcoming BCM, the recent ramming incident involving a Chinese Coast Guard vessel and the Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Teresa Magbanua at Escoda (Sabina) Shoal will be discussed.
For his part, Philippines Navy Spokesperson for the West Philippines Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad reaffirmed the Philippine Navy and the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) commitment to fully support the government’s efforts in addressing the ongoing issues in the WPS.
This includes backing potential actions such as filing a new case against China, which Manalo previously mentioned when asked about possible further steps the country may take after China rammed BRP Teresa Magbanua in Sabina Shoal.
“The Philippine Navy will support all the moves of the government to ensure that our territory will remain intact, our sovereignty will remain, and the welfare of the Philippines will be protected,” Trinidad told the media.
“If there’s any support that the Navy or the AFP will give for whatever actions other agencies of government will do, we are prepared to support,” he added.
Trinidad assured that the Philippines remains “undeterred” by the growing presence of Chinese ships in Escoda Shoal in the WPS.
“We should look at it as our intent to ensure that we will not be deterred by whatever challenges we face in the West Philippine Sea,” Trinidad said, underscoring the stark reality of a lone Philippine vessel standing strong amidst 203 Chinese ships in the face of continued aggression from the China Coast Guard in Sabina Shoal.
“It’s not just a list of numbers. It’s the messaging we send out,” he emphasized during an ambush interview.
Earlier, the Philippine Navy reported a significant increase in Chinese vessels in Escoda Shoal from August 20 to 26, with the number rising to 203.
Among those spotted were 71 vessels in Sabina (Escoda) Shoal, consisting of 53 Chinese Maritime Militia Vessels (CMMVs), nine China Coast Guard Vessels (CCGVs), and nine People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warships.
Despite China’s provocations and escalation in the WPS, Trinidad expressed optimism that the rules-based order will ultimately prevail, citing the “convergence of interests of like-minded navies and like-minded nations.”
