PH, China argue over South China Sea row in global security conference
Philippine News Agency
By Ma. Teresa Montemayor
February 17, 2025, 9:35 pm Updated on February 17, 2025, 9:37 pm
MANILA -- Philippine and Chinese officials argued over their claims in the South China Sea during a roundtable discussion at the 61st Munich Security Conference in Germany on Sunday.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said the Philippines is steadfast in defending the rules-based international order and the rule of law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Manalo noted that following international law "will be the best way to reduce tensions."
"Whenever the Philippines undertakes any kind of activity within our exclusive economic zone (EEZ), as defined by UNCLOS, we feel we are within our rights. But when another country, let's say, applies its own domestic laws to certain areas within our exclusive economic zone, then it really does create the kind of tension that we have been experiencing, especially over the last two years," he said.
"If this is not the case, then the rich, the powerful, who will actually be in a position to assert their own laws against the weaker countries, I believe then we're in for a period of even greater tension," he added.
For his part, former Chinese vice foreign minister Fu Ying said China is "concerned with the shadow of the United States" behind the claimants in the South China Sea and Beijing has to "take responsibility for regional stability."
She emphasized that China cannot agree for the Philippines to occupy Second Thomas (Ayungin) Shoal and Sabina (Escoda) Shoal "because that is a violation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC)."
"Everybody signed to it. I remember that language, not to make more moves, that language was watered down with the Filipino request in order for the Philippines to also sign up," she said.
"So we all agreed, if the Philippines can take new rocks, how can you stop others? How can you stop China from taking more? We are capable, there is no problem. But we are exercising constraints because we are committed to this DOC. So that's a red line no one should be allowed to cross," she added.
In 2002, the DOC was signed by China and the members of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to reaffirm freedom of navigation and overflight, peaceful settlement of disputes, and self-restraint in the conduct of activities.
The Philippines' move to run the BRP Sierra Madre in the Ayungin Shoal is a "kind of naughtiness [that] shouldn't be encouraged," Fu said.
Manalo emphasized that the Philippines was not "provocative" in its actions within its EEZ and other countries support the Philippines, including Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea.
Singapore Minister for Defense Ng Eng Hen said China Coast Guard patrols have gone up in the South China Sea to "about 2,000 ships a day, about a 20-percent increase from last year to the previous."
There are also 200 Chinese militia vessels around disputed features, which is a 35-percent increase from 2022, he added. (PNA)
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