Govt to resolve sea row through diplomacy – DFA

THE Philippine government will continue to explore all diplomatic avenues to resolve its territorial row with China over the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Monday.

In a briefing in Malacañang, DFA Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro gave assurances they are «also doing something on the diplomatic front» amid the heightening tension between Manila and Beijing.

The official said that the country has the Bilateral Consultative Mechanism (BCM) on the South China Sea, which «has been in existence for quite a number of years» and which held a meeting last January in Shanghai.

«There were discussions on some confidence-building measures that have been sort of formulated. There are certain possibilities of us meeting again sometime in the near future,» Lazaro told reporters.

The BCM was organized several years ago to foster friendly dialogue between the Philippines and China regarding the territorial dispute in the WPS.

Lazaro said the next step the government will take in connection to China's growing aggression in the WPS «is all subject to discussion within the DFA.»

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier reiterated his stance that the Philippines is not «in the business to instigate wars» and that his administration would «refuse to play by the rules that force us to choose sides in a great power competition.»

«We will not resort to the use of force or intimidation, or deliberately inflict injury or harm to anyone. But, at the same time, we stand firm. Our calm and peaceful disposition should not be mistaken for acquiescence. History itself can tell that we have never, never in the history of the Philippines, yielded to any foreign power,» Marcos said.