The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reaffirmed its commitment to transparency in ongoing discussions to amend the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the China Coast Guard (CCG), firmly rejecting claims that the negotiations are being conducted in secrecy or without proper coordination.

In a statement issued on April 12, the DFA pushed back against allegations that the talks were “opaque” or unilateral, clarifying that all developments have been undertaken through established diplomatic channels and with the full participation of relevant Philippine authorities.

“The DFA categorically rejects characterizations of these discussions as opaque, unilateral, or conducted without the PCG's knowledge and participation,” the department said.

The DFA emphasized that the PCG has been actively engaged in the amendment process, countering suggestions that the agency was sidelined.

The DFA noted that the PCG and CCG first entered into an MOU on the Establishment of a Joint Coast Guard Committee on Maritime Cooperation in 2016.

“Since 2024, both parties have been engaged in talks to amend and update that agreement,” the DFA stressed.

The DFA added that PCG Commandant Ronnie Gil L. Gavan formally updated the agency on January 27, 2026, regarding the status of negotiations with the China Coast Guard (CCG). He also shared the latest draft of the proposed amendments and requested diplomatic assistance in obtaining updates from Chinese counterparts.

“Admiral Gavan also requested DFA assistance in seeking an update from the CCG on the proposed amendments,” the DFA said.

The DFA further noted that these discussions extend beyond formal meetings, such as the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM), and involve continuous coordination among key officials, including the National Security Adviser and the Secretary of Foreign Affairs.

According to the DFA, the proposed changes to the MOU are “limited in scope” and primarily aim to re-establish the Joint Coast Guard Committee as a formal communication mechanism between the two agencies.

“It bears emphasis that while these negotiations have been conducted through proper diplomatic channels, they are not limited to BCM meetings,” the DFA stressed.

The DFA also clarified that the revised agreement does not include cooperation in sensitive operational areas, explicitly ruling out joint patrols—an issue that has raised public concern amid tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

“The proposed amendments are limited in scope,” the DFA said, adding that they aim to “re-establish” the Joint Coast Guard Committee as a formalized communication channel between the two coast guards.

“The MOU does not contemplate cooperation in sensitive operational areas, particularly joint patrols,” the DFA clarified.

The DFA also maintained that “all developments” have been duly reported to and are known by all relevant principals, including the National Security Adviser in his capacity as NTF-WPS chair, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, and PCG Commandant Gavan.

“References to the draft MOU have likewise appeared in numerous public statements,” the DFA added.

The DFA stressed that the original MOU, signed in 2016, established a framework for maritime cooperation between the PCG and CCG. Discussions to update the agreement have been ongoing since 2024, it added.

The DFA underscored that the negotiations align with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to maintain “open lines of communication” with China while firmly asserting Philippine sovereignty.

The Philippines, the DFA said, continues to anchor its position on international legal frameworks, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the landmark South China Sea Arbitral Award.

These frameworks, the DFA said, affirm the country’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction across its maritime zones, including the strategically significant West Philippine Sea.

The DFA’s latest statement highlights the government’s dual-track approach: sustaining diplomatic engagement with China while safeguarding national interests.

By clarifying the scope and process of the proposed amendments, the DFA aims to address public concerns and reinforce confidence that maritime cooperation initiatives remain aligned with Philippine law, transparency standards, and national security priorities.

“These discussions are consistent with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s standing directive to maintain open lines of communication with China, even as the Philippines firmly upholds its sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction under international law—particularly the 1982 UNCLOS and the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award—across all its maritime zones, including the West Philippine Sea,” the DFA said.