By Joann Santiago
MANILA, July 7 (PNA) — A Palace official on Tuesday maintained that bilateral relations between the Philippines and China remain strong but China has to acknowledge the ASEAN centrality principle regarding the West Philippine Sea or South China Sea row.
In a briefing, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the two countries are celebrating this year the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
He pointed out that as agreed by President Benigno Aquino III and Chinese President Hu Jintao during the former’s visit in China in 2011 the relationship between the two countries does not solely rely on the West Philippine Sea issue.
“Patuloy ang pagpapasigla ng people-to-people programs sa maraming larangan tulad ng edukasyon at kultura, at kooperasyong pangkabuhayan. (The people-to-people programs on various aspects like education and culture and livelihood cooperation continue to be strengthened),” he said.
However, Coloma discounted bilateral talks as a mode of addressing issues regarding territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea.
“Malinaw ang posisyon ng Pilipinas: kailangang kilalanin ang prinsipyo ng ASEAN Centrality dahil sa Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea sa pagitan ng China at mga kasapi ng ASEAN na nilagdaan noon pang 2002 at sa patuloy na panawagan hinggil sa pagbubuo ng legally binding Code of Conduct (The Philippines’ position is clear: the principle of ASEAN Centrality must be acknowledged as agreed under the Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea signed by China and ASEAN members in 2002 and as calls for the institution of a legally binding Code of Conduct continues),” he said.
Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua on Monday said he believed that a war between the Philippines and China was far from happening despite the territorial row.
He, instead suggested that the two countries discuss the issue through bilateral talks.
The Philippines has submitted a case before the international tribunal and the first day of hearing on the case is set from 2:30-5:30 p.m. Tuesday (The Netherlands time).
Asked for his thoughts on the timing of the Chinese’s ambassador’s proposal, Coloma said this was not their focus and that they do not have any information on this but stressed his belief that bilateral relations between the two countries remained strong. (PNA)