NextGen Day

MANILA, Philippines — According to a Filipino security and Chinese studies specialist, one of the Duterte administration’s legacy is the formation of the bilateral consultation mechanism (BCM) in the South China Sea (SCS).

The BCM, according to Rommel Banlaoi, head of the Philippine Association for Chinese Studies (PACS), has helped the two countries build mutual confidence and minimize misunderstandings about the SCS.

“Despite the persistent national differences in the South China Sea, the Philippines and China are now seriously engaged in a series of peaceful dialogues and frank consultations through the BCM to seriously promote functional cooperation, manage security risks, and decisively avoid military conflicts,” he said in a virtual forum organized by the Global Governance Institution.

The BCM was established in 2016 following President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s state visit to China, with the first meeting held in 2017.

China and the Philippines were able to form the Working Groups on Political Security, Fisheries Cooperation, and Marine Scientific Research and Environmental Protection using the same approach.

According to Banlaoi, the two countries were also able to explore ways to strengthen their maritime search and rescue and collaborative development exchanges.

“Recent incidents, if not handled properly by both parties as a result of unilateral action on the ground, can derail overnight any attempts to develop bilateral connections necessary for meaningful cooperation,” he warned.

“It’s critical for all parties to avoid provocative unilateral steps in order to keep the benefits of bilateral maritime cooperation,” he added.

He went on to say that the BCM’s “relative calm” had “contributed to the constructive negotiations” on the Code of Conduct and the implementation of the South China Sea Declaration of Conduct (DOC).

Despite the fact that the application of DOC is “extremely gradual,” Banlaoi said it is nevertheless a positive sign that “things are advancing between the two countries in terms of marine cooperation.”

Banlaoi stated that the new administration must continue to open all channels of communication and promote mutual respect, among other things, in order to maintain these advances.

‘Not a pivot,’ says the narrator.

He reiterated at the same gathering that the Duterte administration’s efforts to improve relations with Beijing were not a “pivot” to the country.

He stressed that, first and foremost, China was not the pivotal point around which Philippine foreign relations revolved.

Manila has “better economic collaboration” with Japan and South Korea than Beijing. He also mentioned that it has considerably stronger defense and security links with the US, as well as a growing collaboration with Australia, Japan, and South Korea.

“There was no pivot since the Philippines investigated strategic partnership with India, Russia, Israel, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and others. In order to establish independent foreign policy, Duterte was expanding his foreign policy agenda “he stated

Nonetheless, Banlaoi claimed that Manila’s warm relations with Beijing during the past six years have been “one of the innovative and pragmatic measures to handle challenging issues” with China, especially on SCS concerns.

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