The Philippines and China recently signed an agreement permitting presidential representatives and top diplomats of both countries to have a direct emergency hotline in case a new incident arises in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) or South China Sea (SCS).
Both countries have established similar emergency hotlines at lower levels, revisiting discussions from 2023.
The recently signed agreement, “Arrangement on Improving Philippines-China Maritime Communication Mechanisms,” resulted from the 9th Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) last July 2.
During this meeting, both countries had a “frank and constructive” discussion about the recent aggression by the Chinese Coast Guard against Philippine vessels in the Ayungin Shoal on June 17.
Both sides have been asserting territorial claims in the WPS/SCS. However, they agreed to de-escalate tensions “without prejudice to their respective positions.”
“There was substantial progress on developing measures to manage the situation at sea, but significant differences remain. Both sides agreed to continue discussions to find a mutually-acceptable resolution to the issues,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement.
Earlier reports declared that the newly signed agreement aimed to “establish several channels for communication” between China and the Philippines specifically on maritime concerns. The channels are as follows:
· Through the representatives to be designated by their leaders;
· Through the DFA and China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs counterparts, including at the Foreign Minister and Vice Foreign Minister levels, or though their designated representatives; and
· Through the respective Coast Guard channels, which will be set up once the corresponding MOU (memorandum of understanding) between the Coast Guards is concluded.
“The DFA is in discussions with the Chinese side on the guidelines that will govern the implementation of this arrangement,” according to reports.
Meanwhile, retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio believed that the new established hotline that directly connects presidential representatives and top diplomats between China and the Philippines is not entirely a positive development.
Last year, a similar emergency hotline was established between China and the Philippines. The hotline itself was a testament to their commitment to establish “confidence-building measures” that would “contribute to improving mutual trust.” At the time, both countries agreed that “maritime issues do not comprise the entirety” of their bilateral relations.
However, Carpio postulated that it was “useless” as China remained unresponsive when the Philippine counterparts tried to dial emergency calls while the Chinese Coast Guard blocked and directed water cannons at Philippine ships during a resupply mission.
“When we are calling them up on their several incidents, they did not answer. They will answer only at the time of their choosing. So, it’s useless,” Carpio said in a forum in Manila.
“We can try another hotline, president to president. But we cannot be assured that if we call, they will be there to answer… We can go through the motions. Okay, we’ll open a hotline. But don’t think that this is a positive development,” he said.
Carpio’s statement was affirmative of what Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesperson of the Philippine Coast Guard, said last year that the hotline “hasn’t provided so much benefits for the Philippines” and that it “didn’t gain anything from it”
The former magistrate remained steadfast in his position that the Philippines should bring China to another arbitration case as the next step. He expressed that while diplomatic protests and note verbales are an important part of the process, it has to be followed by an action. And that action is to “bring the dispute into a forum that the Philippines cannot lose.”
“Note verbales and diplomatic protests are important. Because if you don’t protest under international law, you acquiesce… But if you don’t go to the next step, if you don’t go to the arbitration, nothing will happen. The issue will remain unresolved. We have to move to the next step,” Carpio stressed.
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