Zubiri hopes for PH-China code of conduct to avoid WPS encounters

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri hoped that the Philippines and China would come up with a code of conduct (COC) to avoid encounters in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

The Senate chief made the remark after he announced that China agreed to the adoption of a resolution that mentioned the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

“Ayaw nila ng multilateralism. Ayaw nila ng multilateral talk. Even on a bilateral basis, I think we should have some sort of code of conduct with them,” Zubiri said in a press conference.

“Huwag naman harangin ‘yung ating supply missions, ‘yung ating mga mangingisda, sana payagan na nilang mabuhay nang matahimik at maghanap ng livelihood dito sa mga lugar na ito to their fishing boats. If we can do that, if we can live peacefully at this point in time with one another, that’s the best,” he added.

While the Senate chief said this was a “tight dream,” he added that he wanted a COC-like document to prevent “escalation or hostilities” in the South China Sea, part of which was the WPS.

Zubiri also said he wanted “close” relations between the Philippines and China like what the country has with Vietnam.

“We would like to have that same treatment with China. We can always respect each other. Nandyan na sila. We are not going to cede one inch of territory, pero andiyan na sila at nandito naman tayo pero huwag naman tayo parang war posture,” Zubiri said.

“We shouldn’t have a war posture with each other. We should be more welcoming, more considerate, and if we can achieve that in this meeting with the APPF when they go home back to their respective governments and talk to their policymakers,” he added.

The Philippines has been sending numerous diplomatic protests to China over several incidents of harassment against Filipino fishermen and the security services guarding the country’s territorial sea. — DVM, GMA Integrated News