Gatchalian proposes backchannel talks with China

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Friday proposed backchannel discussions with China to address issues related to the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

In a virtual interview with reporters, Gatchalian said backchanneling is another diplomatic mechanism where frank discussions can be conducted while exploring ways forward to resolve issues without a lot of external comments.

"It's important also to intensify and resume backchanneling talks so that they can come up with really concrete solutions on how to move forward with the issue on WPS without external influence or external pressure," he told reporters.

The senator raised the importance of having a "singular voice" instead of having many officials talking about the developments in the WPS.

"'Yung mga lumalabas sa media, of course, natutuwa 'yung sarili nating mga audiences, natutuwa 'yung mga Chinese, natutuwa 'yung mga Pinoy. Pero may nareresolba ba?" he asked.

[Of course, our own audiences are pleased with the reports that come out in media. The Chinese are pleased, Pinoys are pleased. But is anything resolved?)

"Kaya I would like to see a singular voice when it comes to echo the sentiments and the position of the government... Importante rin na 'yung backchanneling mabuhay 'yan at magtuloy-tuloy kahit para walang impluwensya na nangyayari, nakakapag-usap sila nang masinsinan at meron silang posibleng resolusyon na may mangyari," he said.

(That is why I would like to see a singular voice when it comes to echo the sentiments and the position of the government... It's important that backchanneling efforts are revived and continue, so that no influence would be exerted. Both parties can have close discussions and they can reach a possible resolution.)

Among the issues that could be addressed through backchannel discussions are the harassment of Filipinos who are fishing in the WPS and those who are doing resupply missions at Ayungin Shoal.

Although the backchannel talks may not result in permanent solutions, Gatchalian said at least there are resolutions that can achieve peace and stability in the region.

Asked who should lead the backchannel talks, Gatchalian did not mention a specific person but he said that the one who could be appointed to lead it is "someone who has good relationships with China."

"It can be outside of [the Department of Foreign Affairs], who has good relationships with China, who can have frank discussions, and who can deliver the message of our president. It can be someone outside of the DFA but trusted by the president," said Gatchalian, a member of the Senate foreign relations committee.

In July, former Foreign Affairs secretary and now Senator Alan Peter Cayetano floated the idea of backchannel discussions, which he said could be led by former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Apart from the security issues that could be raised through backchannel discussions on the WPS, Gatchalian also mentioned the need to discuss dialogues on energy security including oil and gas exploration in the Philippine maritime territory, particularly the Recto Bank.

However, Gatchalian did not agree to the suggestion raised by former Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio to follow the steps of Malaysia and Indonesia, wherein Navy ships were deployed to protect their drill ships and survey ships to explore resources in their waters.

"Kapag nagpadala tayo ng gray ships, there's a big chance na magkakagiyera. Because gray ships [are understood to belong to the] Navy na ito. We are only sending our civilian ships through the [Philippine Coast Guard] because tayo, we don't want to escalate the situation," Gatchalian said.

(When we send gray ships, there's a big chance that war would erupt, because these are understood to belong to the Navy. We are only sending our civilian ships through the [Philippine Coast Guard] because we don't want to escalate the situation.)

Diplomatic efforts

On Thursday, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said that he had a "frank and candid" exchange with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi over the phone on Wednesday amid growing tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

The statement comes as China warned that if the Philippines is bent on having its own way or colludes with "ill-intentioned" external forces, China would defend its rights and respond resolutely.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said China is hoping that the Philippines will work properly with Beijing to manage the situation in the South China Sea.

"We must stress that our position of managing the maritime dispute through dialogue and consultation has not changed," he said at a regular news conference.

Just last week, the China Coast Guard (CCG) fired water cannons at Philippine vessels on a regular rotation and resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.

This was preceded by a similar incident involving vessels of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), which were headed to Scarborough Shoal for the distribution of oil and supplies to local fishing communities.

'Paradigm shift'

In light of recent events, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Tuesday said the Philippines must do “something that we have not done before.”

“We have resorted to the traditional methods of diplomacy where, should there be an incident, we send [a] note verbale. Our embassy will send a démarche to the Foreign Affairs [Ministry] office in Beijing, but we have been doing this for many years now, with very little progress… Let's move the needle back, so that paradigm shift is something that we have to formulate," said Marcos.

To diffuse tensions in the West Philippine Sea, the President said the Philippines will continue to engage with partners in the Indo-Pacific region and "the rest of the world," if necessary.

Marcos said, "We do not want to go [to] the point where there are incidents that might cause an actual violent conflict. Maybe from a mistake or a misunderstanding and these things happen all the time."

Meanwhile, China is ready to work with the Philippines through dialogue, Beijing's foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

In response to Marcos' comment on bilateral ties, the ministry said that the recent development in the South China Sea is the fault of the Philippines, but relations between the two countries are not all about disputes. — VDV, GMA Integrated News