A China Coast Guard ship monitors Philippine fishermen aboard their wooden boats during the distribution of fuel and food to fishers by the civilian-led mission Atin Ito (This Is Ours) Coalition, in the disputed South China Sea on May 16, 2024. A Philippine boat convoy bearing supplies for Filipino fishers said they were headed back to port May 16, ditching plans to sail to a Beijing-held reef off the Southeast Asian country after one of their boats was “constantly shadowed” by a Chinese vessel. (AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said that he does not see “good faith” on the part of Beijing in the code of conduct (COC) negotiations amid the tensions in the South China Sea.
Teodoro made the statement when asked whether or not he thinks China will “align” to the code of conduct negotiations and if he sees good faith in the talks.
“Right now, honestly speaking, I do not see that (good faith), and the President also echoed that in saying that we cannot cast a blind eye or turn a blind eye on what is happening in the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea,” Teodoro said in an ambush interview on Monday.
“I will not give a thought on whether or not China will align, but let’s scrutinize their actions and what are they putting forward in the discussions on the code of conduct. That I would like to see,” Teodoro added.
“I mean, because if it is a perpetuation of what they have already done, then it’s hard. We look forward to good faith discussions, and the President [Ferdinand Marcos Jr.] has given the marching order that he looks forward to good faith discussions, and we will comply,” he added.
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Last week, Marcos urged the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) at a closed-door session “not to turn a blind eye” to aggressors in the South China Sea.
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“We call on all Asean member states not to turn a blind eye to the aggressive, coercive, and illegal actions of an external power against an Asean member state,” the text of the President’s speech showed to the media read.
“They run counter to one of Asean’s purposes: to unite the region as a bulwark against external threats and conflicts, and ensure that each Asean member state can lead its national existence free from interference, subversion, and coercion. Silence in the face of these violations diminishes Asean,” it added.
Marcos likewise urged Asean states to fast-track the long-overdue COC for resolving maritime conflict in the contested waters.
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