South China Sea: is Beijing abusing Philippines talks to mask its ‘policy of aggression’?

The Philippine foreign ministry vowed to be “relentless in protecting its interests and upholding its sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea” – the local designation for the parts of the South China Sea claimed by Manila.

In contrast, China’s foreign ministry said the two sides had a “candid and constructive exchange of views” during the BCM, while reasserting Beijing’s sovereignty over the Spratly Islands, including the Second Thomas Shoal – territory that falls within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, according to a 2016 international arbitral ruling.

The ruling by the United Nations International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) rejected China’s expansive “nine-dash line” claims over much of the South China Sea. However, Beijing has dismissed the tribunal’s decision as illegitimate, since it did not participate in the arbitration, and maintains its sovereignty assertions over areas within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

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A senior government source familiar with the negotiations, speaking anonymously as they were not authorised to discuss the matter publicly, accused China of trying to “impose a habit and status quo on Filipinos that it is right for them to be [within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone], and that we have to ask their permission and coordinate with them” regarding the Second Thomas Shoal.

The source said the Philippine government’s diplomatic objective is to “resolve the dispute”, but asserted that China’s true goal is to compel Manila to accept the status quo in which Beijing controls and occupies parts of Philippine territory.

The senior government