Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said on Monday that China’s commitment to a dialogue with ASEAN countries, including the Philippines, about the West Philippine Sea (WPS) is questionable.
“They are well-committed to dialogue. However, the problem is they are the only ones who believe in what they say. If they are committed to dialogue, it should be believable,” Teodoro said in a mix of English and Filipino.
The defense chief said the Philippines is likewise committed to dialogue, as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. gave the marching orders for it.
“We are committed to a dialogue as well as long as we know that we are not being fooled and harmed,” Teodoro said.
The President had pressed Southeast Asian leaders and China during the recent ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, Laos to speed up negotiations on a code of conduct for the South China Sea.
He said substantive progress needed to be made and all parties must “be earnestly open to seriously managing differences” and reducing tension.
“There should be more urgency in the pace of the negotiations of the ASEAN-China code of conduct,” Mr. Marcos said.
In a statement, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said China is committed to settling maritime differences with the countries concerned.
“With the joint effort of China and ASEAN countries, the situation in the South China Sea is generally stable. China remains committed to settling maritime differences with countries concerned through dialogue and consultation on the basis of respecting historical facts and international law,” Mao said.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “China’s commitment to dialogue questionable, Gibo says.”
