Chinese envoy tells govt officials: Follow BBM ‘guidance’

CHINESE Ambassador Huang Xilian yesterday urged Philippine officials to follow the “guidance” of President Marcos Jr. instead of listening to other officials on the issue of the West Philippine Sea.

Huang made the remarks during the launching of the Chinese Visa Application Center in Makati City.

“We need to follow the guidelines, the guidance of the President instead of any officials,” Huang told reporters in a chance interview.

He he did not name the “other officials” but Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has made known his displeasure over Chinese actions against Filipino vessels in the West Philippine Sea.

The Philippines calls the portion of the South China Sea that is within its exclusive economic zone as the West Philippine Sea, where it has had a series of confrontations with China, triggering an exchange of accusations of provoking conflict.

Teodoro also said Manila and Beijing cannot meet halfway in handling their differences until the latter recognizes the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

The arbitral ruling junked China’s massive claim in the South China Sea, including the parts claimed by the Philippines as within its 200-mile exclusive economic zone.

China claims nearly the entire South China Sea through which nearly $5trillion in goods passes annually and refuses to honor nor abide by the arbitral ruling.

But Huang said the two countries should meet halfway to resolve the maritime territorial dispute and reduce tension in the waterway.

“We expect that both sides will meet halfway to handle the differences in a diplomatic manner and de-escalate the tensions,” he added.

Last week, Beijing and Manila agreed to improve maritime communication and manage conflicts and differences through dialogue with regard to the issues in the disputed water.

This was agreed on by Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Nong Rong and Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro during the eighth meeting of the China-Philippines Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea held in Shanghai.

On Wednesday however, the DFA revealed it has lodged four diplomatic protests against Beijing since the start of 2024, over China’s over harassment