Department of Foreign Affairs
The Philippines and China’s hotline on the South China Sea would soon be elevated to include the level of presidential representatives and top diplomats, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
The DFA said the recently signed “Arrangement on Improving Philippines-China Maritime Communication Mechanisms” would provide various “channels for communication” between the two countries, specifically on maritime issues.
These avenues include one “through the representatives to be designated” by the Philippine and Chinese presidents.
Another channel is between the DFA and the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including at the secretary (foreign minister) and undersecretary (vice foreign minister) levels or through their designated representatives
“The DFA is in discussions with the Chinese side on the guidelines that will govern the implementation of this Arrangement,” it said.
“There was substantial progress on developing measures to manage the situation at sea, but significant differences remain. Both sides agreed to continue discussions to find a mutually- acceptable resolution to the issues,” DFA added.
However, retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio said the elevated hotline may not be an entirely positive development.
He recalled that a previously established hotline was “useless” as China remained unresponsive when Philippine officials tried to make emergency calls while Chinese Coast Guard personnel blocked and used water cannons against Filipino ships during a resupply mission.
“When we called them up on several incidents, they did not answer. They will answer only at the time of their choosing. So it’s useless,” he said.
“We can try another hotline, even president to president. But we cannot be assured that if we call they will be there to answer… We can go through the motions. We’ll open a hotline, but don’t think that this is a positive development,” Carpio said.
Last year, both countries established similar emergency hotlines at lower levels following a 2023 bilateral meeting between President Marcos and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The previous direct communication mechanism extended to the DFA’s Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office and the Chinese MOFA’s Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs. However, there has been no substantial progress since it was established, with China unresponsive to emergency calls from the Philippines.
Carpio remained firm in his position that the Philippines should bring China to another arbitration case.
“Note verbales and diplomatic protests are important. Because if you don’t protest under international law, you acquiesce… But if you don’t go to the next step, if you don’t go to the arbitration, nothing will happen. The issue will remain unresolved. We have to move to the next step,” Carpio said.
The new hotline arrangement was signed on July 2 during the 9th Philippine- China Bilateral Consultation Mechanism meeting aimed at de-escalating tensions following the violent June 17 incident in the Ayungin Shoal involving China Coast Guard and Philippine Navy personnel.
As this developed, the CCG “Monster” ship remained around Escoda Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, PCG spokesperson for the WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela said, contradicting previous reports that the world’s biggest coast guard vessel had already left.
He also confirmed the presence of a 135-meter CCG ship with hull number 5303 within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), some 60 nautical miles west of Lubang Island.
The Philippine Navy, for its part, said it is open to using a US unmanned aircraft system to carry out resupply missions in Ayungin Shoal to avoid getting harassed by Chinese maritime forces.
Philippine Navy spokesperson for the WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad confirmed that US Marines tested their Tactical Resupply Unmanned Aircraft System (TRUAS) during two recent military exercises earlier this year.
The TRUAS, according to the US Marine Corps, is a Class 3 unmanned aerial system which can deliver critical supplies to remote and inaccessible areas with unprecedented speed and precision.“All options are being considered,” Trinidad said.
