Senator Erwin Tulfo, chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, said he aims to lay out a concrete “way forward” after a scheduled meeting with Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan. The meeting, organized by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), is part of an effort to defuse the heated rhetoric between the Senate and the Chinese Embassy regarding the West Philippine Sea.
According to Tulfo, he will represent the Senate in the said talks to understand China's side and clearly convey the issues raised by the Philippines. He emphasized that the direction of the talks is focused on an orderly and diplomatic resolution, instead of further deepening tensions in the region. He said open communication is important to find practical and long-term solutions.
The senator is expected to present the results of the meeting to an all-senators’ caucus in the Senate. The goal is to develop a unified position of the assembly on the next steps in the West Philippine Sea issue, especially amid ongoing challenges to the country’s sovereignty and security.
Meanwhile, Tulfo also noted the progress on the proposed region-wide Code of Conduct in the disputed waters, where the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei each have claims. Although China initially objected to the framework, there are indications that it is showing willingness to study the draft, raising hopes that the agreement could be implemented before the end of the year.
Amidst the complex diplomacy, the interests and rights of the Philippines remain at the center. The upcoming meeting could be an important step towards a clearer direction and a firmer stance for the country on regional issues.
