PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has sought a ‘reset’ of talks with Beijing to prevent future violent confrontation between the Chinese Coast Guard and members of the Philippine Army during his meeting with Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan earlier this week.
This, after two members of the Philippine Navy were hurt by people onboard a Chinese Coast Guard vessel at the Ayungin Shoal last Monday.
Marcos condemned the incident, which prompted him to summon the Chinese Ambassador.
‘Whatever issues exist between China and the Philippines, he [Marcos] wants a reset in those discussions. The Chinese ambassador heard him, and the President also heard [the position of the] Chinese ambassador; so, hopefully, this leads to a better outcome,’ Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing on Thursday.
Castro declined to give further details about the meeting, which lasted an hour and 20 minutes at the Palace, but she said its outcome appears to be positive.
As to the Chinese embassy’s claim that the Ayungin incident happened after the Philippines allegedly violated the terms of a supposed 2024 arrangement between Manila and Beijing by doing construction work in BRP Sierra Madre, Castro said she has no information on the matter. The DFA has denied there was such an arrangement.
BRP Sierra Madre is a Philippine Navy ship, which was intentionally ran aground in the Ayungin Shoal to allow the country maintain its territorial claim in the area.
Castro challenged the Chinese embassy to release a copy of the said 2024 agreement.
The Presidential Communications Office undersecretary said the Philippine government is still open to holding future talks with China despite its repeated efforts to encroach on parts of the West Philippine Sea.
‘We should always act in good faith. We should always have in mind that we are dealing with people who will also be in good faith. It is difficult to [make a] deal when you immediately think that the person you are talking to is lying,’ Castro said.
In a related development, Marcos visited the two Philippine Navy members who were hurt from the Ayungin mishap, at the Camp Ricarte Station Hospital sa Puerto Princesa City in Palawan on Thursday.
The chief executive recognized the bravery and faithful service to the nation, and conferred the Order of Lapu-Lapu upon the two soldiers and awarded them financial assistance of P100,000 each.