Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson said over the weekend he is open to initiating dialogue between his fellow senators and officials of the Chinese Embassy led by Ambassador Jing Quan in a bid to de-escalate tensions between both organizations.
In a news release on Saturday, Lacson said he was pleasantly surprised by Jing’s recent statement inviting Philippine government officials for a sit-down talk, so they can effectively manage their differences over maritime disputes between Manila and Beijing, involving the West Philippine Sea.
The seasoned legislator said he will personally propose to Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III to invite the Chinese diplomats for a meeting with senators.
“I will suggest to the Senate President that the dialogue include at least members of the Senate majority. The minority can send their representatives to take part,” Lacson said in a radio interview.
“To me, that’s a good opening we should consider and we should grab the opportunity to initiate such talks. We can meet at the Senate, or the embassy grounds, or a neutral area. It would be good to sit down and discuss what needs to be discussed. After all, we have diplomatic ties with China. We even have a One China Policy,” he added.
Lacson also said it would be better that Sen. Francis Pangilinan, who authored a Senate resolution condemning the Chinese embassy’s recent remarks against Philippine lawmakers and public officials, join the dialogue, along with Sen. Risa Hontiveros.
Senate foreign relations committee chairman Erwin Tulfo could also take part in the meeting, he added.
“It would be better to meet face to face, because it would be more cordial and professional – instead of debating the issue in the Senate session hall,” he said. “The ambassador has said ‘let’s talk.’ That’s an open invitation and a good opening to discuss things in a cordial, professional and diplomatic atmosphere.”
Jing was quoted as saying earlier this week that the Chinese side “always advocates dialogue,” adding, “Let’s sit down. Let’s talk. Let’s find ways to manage differences.”
His remarks followed the Senate’s adoption of a resolution condemning the Chinese Embassy in Manila’s remarks criticizing Philippine officials, who asserted maritime rights in the West Philippine Sea.
“We may have our disagreements regarding territory, but we can at least agree on how to handle the situation through discourse,” Lacson said.
