PH-China relations ‘a bit choppy’ amid maritime dispute, says Manalo

This frame grab from handout video footage taken and released on April 30, 2024, by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) shows the Philippine Coast Guard ship BRP Bagacay (C) being hit by water cannons from Chinese Coast Guard vessels near the Chinese-controlled Scarborough shoal in disputed waters of the South China Sea. —Photo handout from the PCG  via Agence France-Presse

MANILA, Philippines — In light of continued Chinese aggression in Philippine waters, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said the relationship between Manila and Beijing is “a bit choppy.”

“It’s a bit choppy. There are many issues which have come up recently. I will say [that] in the case of the Philippines, [there’s an] effort to assert our rights in our [Exclusive Economic Zone],” said Manalo in a press conference on Wednesday.

Later into the presser, Manalo said although the relationship between China and the Philippines is not as smooth as it could be, he said it is not yet at the point that it would “downgrade.”

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“I don’t think we’re there yet. As we’ve always said, we’ve always agreed that we should try and manage our relationship, manage our disputes through diplomatic means,” said Manalo.

China’s continued aggression in Philippine waters is borne out of a sweeping claim over most of the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea.

This claim, however, has long been dismissed by an arbitral tribunal.