Philippines to Address West Philippine Sea Issues with China in Upcoming Bilateral Talks

The Philippine government is gearing up to discuss recent tensions in the West Philippine Sea, including the controversial presence of a Chinese ‘monster ship’ near Zambales, during a scheduled bilateral meeting with China on January 16. Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, speaking after a separate meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi, confirmed the upcoming talks in China, where Undersecretary Maria Theresa Lazaro will lead the Philippine delegation. When questioned about the possibility of requesting the withdrawal of the 541-foot-long Chinese coast guard vessel, Manalo emphasized that the Philippines would indeed voice its concerns. While Manalo refrained from predicting the outcome of the meeting, he expressed hopes of fostering cooperation between the two nations, particularly in environmental efforts and potential coast guard collaborations. He suggested that any cooperative initiatives would need to be formalized through a memorandum of understanding between the coast guards of both countries. The National Security Council has previously condemned the illegal operations of Chinese maritime forces within Philippine waters, specifically highlighting the activities of the CCG vessel 5901, known as the ‘monster ship’ due to its imposing size, within the country’s exclusive economic zone.