Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte (left), President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (Facebook, MANILA BULLETIN)

President Marcos deserves kudos for personally taking up the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the just-concluded Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in the United States (US). 

Thus, said Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte, who was referring to the "pull-aside" meeting between the two heads-of-state on the sidelines of the summit in San Francisco. 

“I commend our Chief Executive for going the extra mile to initiate a meeting with President Xi on the sidelines of this year’s APEC Summit, in keeping with his commitment to exhaust all diplomatic means to end this territorial dispute and ensure peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region,” Villafuerte, a former Camarines Sur governor, said. 

“Our Chief Executive deserves credit for taking it upon himself to initiate the pull-aside meeting in his search for a peaceful settlement of our territorial dispute with China on his watch,” he said. 

“However,” the Bicolano added, “I am not keeping my hopes up because, judging from the outcomes of previous talks between both countries, including President Marcos’ first meeting this year with President Xi in China last January during his state visit to Beijing, such discussions were followed by non-stop, even more hostile incursions into waters within our EEZ (exclusive economic zone)." 

“I do not see Chinese bullying of Philippine vessels at the WPS ending right this instant just because President Xi had committed anew for Beijing officials to work out mechanisms with their Filipino counterparts to ease the deepening Manila-Beijing tensions," reckoned Villafuerte. 

He was referring to Chinese veasels' disruption of at least two resupply missions by Philippine boats to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal. 

These disruptions have involved the water-cannoning and/ or outright colliding with the Philippine boats to stop them from carrying out the mission. 

According to the National Unity Party (NUP) president, the "best approach" for Manila as far as protecting its seas is concerned is "is to double down on joint, and possibly multilateral, patrols with the US and other close country-allies in our EEZ". 

Villafuerte said the Marcos-Xi meeting may not amount to anything when it comes to resolving the ongoing  territorial dispute, "Not by a long shot.” 

“But of course, I will only be happy to be proven wrong," he said.