In this May 16, 2014 file photo, Vietnamese expatriates and Filipinos display placards as they join together in a rally in front of the Chinese Consulate at the financial district of Makati city to protest the recent moves by China to construct an oil rig near the Vietnamese-claimed Paracels off the contested Spratlys group of islands and shoals in the South China Sea. Policymakers in most Asian countries support a robust US role in the region even though many expect China to become the most dominant power, a survey said Thursday, June 5. AP
MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang is not giving up on China.
Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. on Tuesday said the Philippine government believes it will be able to patch things up with China amid territorial spats.
He insisted that the Philippine navy’s friendly sports fest with Vietnamese troops in South China Sea, to which China negatively reacted to, was a demonstration of the two nations’ friendship.
“This is simply a demonstration that even if these countries may have competing claims, they are able to demonstrate that the pursuit of peaceful settlement of these disputes will not stand in the way of their friendship and the people-to-people friendship that continues to flourish in spite of the differences,” Coloma said.
Both the Philippines and Vietnam have been opposing moves by China to aggressively claim disputed areas in South China Sea.
But the government has repeatedly explained that the territorial row does “not constitute the totality of Philippine-China relations.”
“We still want to maintain the overall cooperation and friendship of our country and their country. Our relations in other fields, such as trade and commerce, and expanding people-to-people programs that would strengthen the friendship of Filipinos and citizens of the People’s Republic of China,” Coloma explained.
He said the government won’t falter in its determination to achieve a peaceful resolution of the dispute.
“We will remain vigilant in protecting our sovereign rights but maintaining equanimity in the face of all of these actions,” Coloma said.
However, he was mum on news that China raised its squabble with Vietnam to the United Nations, through a position paper.
“In the field of international relations, it is reasonable to expect that countries will also conduct certain moves or implement measures that are designed to win a greater quantum of public or international support for the positions they have taken,” Coloma said.
Asked if the Philippines is considering doing the same, he said it was “understandable that the citizens from different countries of the world will also be expressing their views to their governments and their governments will, in turn, take that into account as they operate in international fora like the United Nations and the European Union.”
“And that is why we have chosen to bring our case to a tribunal that allows for open discussion of the issues because that is what we have in our favor. We believe that we have truth, reason, and justice on our side,” Coloma said.
President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday evening will attend the celebration of the 16th Filipino-Chinese Friendship Day.
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