Diplomatic attempts with Beijing were going in a “poor direction,” according to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who underlined the need for a “paradigm shift” in response to China’s increasingly belligerent behaviour in the West Philippine Sea.
Marcos claimed that Beijing had ignored “traditional methods of diplomacy” including delivering note verbales and calling Chinese envoys in an interview with Japanese media on Saturday.
In a statement released by the Presidential Communications Office, Marcos was cited as saying, “We have been doing this for many years now, with very little progress.”
“We need to take an action that we have never taken before. To move the needle in the opposite direction, we need to develop a new notion, a new principle, or a new idea. Let’s shift the needle back; it’s moving up. Thus, we need to develop that paradigm change,” he continued.
Under Marcos, who has aimed to fortify ties with the United States and retaliate against Beijing’s aggressions in the West Philippine Sea, relations between the Philippines and China have gotten worse.
On the other hand, in return for promises of investment, his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte pursued a change in foreign policy towards China.
The Chinese Coast Guard was charged by the government earlier this month for allegedly ramming and using water cannons against Philippine cargo boats.
Near the coasts of its neighbours, China claims practically all of the South China Sea, including its islands and surrounding waters. It disregarded a 2016 decision by an international panel declaring that its claims lacked legal support.
Reduce the intensity of the conflict
In order to defuse the tension in the crucial waterway, Marcos added that the Philippines will keep in communication with its allies not only in the Indo-Pacific area but also internationally if needed.
The CEO stated, “We do not want to get to the point where there are incidents that might lead to an actual violent conflict.”
“Therefore, in my opinion, a paradigm shift needs to be implemented by the nations that believe they have a stake in this issue,” he continued.
Marcos was in Tokyo for the 50th anniversary of friendship and cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Japan commemorative conference.
In response to China’s increasing assertiveness, leaders from Southeast Asia and Japan decided to “strengthen dialogue and cooperation for the maintenance of maritime security and safety and maritime order based on the rule of law.”
