DND: China to host security dialogue

COURTESY CALL Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian called on
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. at Camp Aguinaldo on
Wednesday. —PHOTO FROMHUANG XILIAN’S FACEBOOK PAGE

Amid reports about Beijing’s recent aggression in the West Philippine Sea, Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian met with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Wednesday at Camp Aguinaldo, with both agreeing on the “enhancement of defense relations through the implementation of existing bilateral mechanisms and dialogue platforms.”

In a statement, the Department of National Defense (DND) said these platforms included the upcoming Philippines-China Annual Defense and Security Talks, which Beijing would host.

The DND did not mention if China’s harassment of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ships supporting a resupply mission in the West Philippine Sea on June 30 was tackled during Xilian’s courtesy call. A PCG official reported that Chinese coast guard ships had carried out “dangerous maneuvers,” forcing a PCG vessel, the BRP Malabrigo, to slow down to avoid collision.

The incident was the latest of Beijing’s coercion in the disputed waters. A similar one occurred in the same shoal in late April, causing concern for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

In the meeting, Teodoro emphasized “the need to sustainably develop institutions through a bottom-up approach and follow through in effectively implementing existing mechanisms.”

He likewise “lauded” China’s vision of a powerful nation, which he related to the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ capability upgrade efforts that he said were in line with the country’s interests. A “strong” AFP would serve as the “bedrock” for regional stability and resiliency against external threats, he added.

In a Facebook post, Xilian said he had a “constructive discussion” with Teodoro on “promoting defense and military relations” between their countries and “maintaining peace and stability in the region.”

Grave concern for peace

Japan, on the other hand, also expressed concern over China’s actions in the South China Sea, saying these were endangering peace and stability in the region.

“As China’s unilateral actions, such as repeated intrusions into Japan’s waters around the Senkaku Islands in the [East China Sea], China’s dangerous behavior in the South China Sea in defiance of the 2016 arbitration award is a grave concern for regional peace and stability,” Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko said in a post on Twitter on Thursday.

He issued the statement following the PCG’s report on the June 30 near-collision between its vessel and a Chinese Coast Guard ship over the latter’s “aggressive action.”

For its part, Australia has vowed to maintain its presence in the region, including the South China Sea.

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade First Assistant Secretary for US and Indo-Pacific Strategy Division Peter Sawczak noted that Australia, like all states, has a “vital stake in the openness and stability” of the area and is committed to continuing its “longstanding presence in the region, including in the South China Sea.”

He made the statement during the third Philippine-Australia Maritime Dialogue held on July 5 in Manila.

Sawczak added that Australia would continue promoting international law and a rules-based regional order, reiterating support for the 2016 arbitral ruling that dismissed China’s claim to most of the South China Sea.

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