The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has filed a total of 388 diplomatic protests against China over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) territorial dispute but there is no palpable success.
Manalo said the filing of diplomatic protest means the Philippines asserts its rights over the WPS “or we lose them’”as “we put them on notice and that is a positive development.”
President Marcos has stated that he would not allow a single inch of Philippine territory ceded to another country.
“But there is no palpable success. What’s the point aside from annoying them?” Senator Imee Marcos asked during the organisational meeting of her Senate foreign relations committee.
Manalo said China does not reply to these protests one by one but with an omnibus note.
Piqued, Marcos said there should be a “middle way” that adheres to the Asian culture of moving away from a possible loss of face (mapahiya).
Manalo maintained that the WPS is very complex issue, adding that if there are no diplomatic notes and something happens at the WPS, “China may think its ok with us.”
He pointed out that the WPS is not the sum of Philippines-China relations.
He said there had been extensive discussions on economic, political and cultural issues “as we created bilateral mechanisms.”
Asked by Marcos if there is hope for the Code of Conduct for the South China Sea (COC) of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to be in place and legally binding, Manalo replied: ‘“mayroon but matagal (there is but it is slow).”
Marcos suggested that Manalo talk to some ASEAN members involved in the South China territorial dispute such as Malaysia and Vietnam on having a similar Code of Conduct.
The Code of Conduct is meant to avert conflict from erupting.
Marcos expressed surprise why the Philippine Coast Guard has not done anything on the harassment methods of China on Philippine vessels within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
She expressed surprise at answers that the Coast Gaurd awaits order from President Marcos ‘’but they keep on patrolling.’’
Defense officials said they do not want things to escalate as they defer to diplomatic means.
Marcos expressed surprise why there is no action from the National Task Force on WPS (NTF-WPS) over the harassment made by Chinese vessels on Philippine vessels.
NTF-WPS was established during the Aquino administration on March 17, 2016.
In 2022, China gave its assent to the ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct in the South China Sea.