MANILA – The Philippine government is set to raise its concerns over recent developments in the West Philippine Sea, and highly likely Beijing’s deployment of its so-called “monster ship” near Zambales, during the two states’ scheduled bilateral meeting on Thursday.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo on Wednesday confirmed that the two states will be holding the Philippine-China Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) meeting in China on January 16, with Undersecretary Maria Theresa Lazaro as the Philippine delegation head.
Asked if Manila would be demanding Beijing to pull out its 541-foot-long coast guard vessel near Zambales, Manalo said: “We will certainly raise the concerns that we have.”
Meanwhile, Manalo said he would not prejudge the final outcome of the BCM, but it would be aimed at “promoting cooperation”.
He said the two governments would try to look at how they could cooperate in certain areas, including on environment and even through a possible coast guard-to-coast guard cooperation.
Asked to elaborate, Manalo only said the two foreign affairs ministries are hoping to see “means of cooperation and undertakings or positive activities” between the two coast guards.
“But that would have to be agreed in a memorandum of understanding between the two (coast guards), but it’s cooperative in nature, of course,” he said.
The National Security Council earlier said the Philippines is not tolerating the illegal activities of Chinese maritime forces within the Philippine waters as it confirmed that the CCG vessel 5901, dubbed as “monster ship” due to its size, continue to operate illegally within the country’s exclusive economic zone. (PNA)