Secretary Enrique Manalo is as cool and nonchalant as diplomats come. In sit-down or chance interviews, he sticks to his talk points, never loses his cool, and almost never gives into a fiery soundbite, no matter how hard the journalists around him try.
So it was a pleasant surprise to not a few observers and journalists in Manila when, during a panel discussion at the Munich Security Conference on February 15, Manalo was fired up while responding to statements by a retired Chinese diplomat and questions from Chinese academics in the audience.
Towards the end of a panel titled, “Making Waves: Maritime Tensions in the Indo-Pacific,” Manalo was asked about Manila’s supposed promise to remove the BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin or Second Thomas Shoal.
“There was never any promise to take the ship…but what we should really take [into] account of is… why is there such a huge presence of China Coast Guard [CCG] vessels around Ayungin Shoal. I mean, that’s the reference I made earlier — that shoal is only 70 nautical miles away from Philippine territory, yet it’s hundreds of miles away from Hainan Island. Why are there so many Chinese Coast Guard ships there? Is it their territory?” said Manalo.
Beijing has long claimed that the Philippines promised to remove the BRP Sierra Madre way back in 1999, when it was first run aground in the shoal. Manila has repeatedly denied making that commitment. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reiterated in August 2023 that no deal existed — and if it did, he said, “I rescind that agreement as of now.”
Manalo was joined by Singapore Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen, US Senator Christpher Coons, and former Chinese foreign affairs vice minister and Tsinghua University Center for International Security and Strategy founder Fu Ying, in a panel moderated by Lynn Kuok.
Pointing fingers
Fu, during the panel, disclosed that she was China’s ambassador to Manila when the BRP Sierra Madre was run aground in 1999. Shortly after, the Navy grounded another ship, The BRP Benguet, in Scarborough Shoal. The latter was eventually pulled out of the shoal, following strong opposition from China.
The former Chinese vice minister, during the panel, claimed that the 2016 arbitral ruling that affirmed the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea, was still subject to challenges. She also accused Manila of not informing China before filing the case, and that the subsequent ruling was “one-sided.” China refused to participate in the hearing.
“It’s clear that the arbitral award of 2016 is legally binding. It’s part of international law. And our only hope is that one day China can abide by the arbitral ruling. It would certainly ease tensions,” said Manalo.
It’s long been Beijing’s claim that it’s the Philippines and its treaty ally, the United States, that have been “stirring up” tensions in the West Philippine Sea. Fu asserted that the “shadow of the US [was] behind the claimants” in the South China Sea.
Manalo traced blame back to Beijing.
“Countries which are exercising their rights in accordance with the [UN Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS] should have the right to exercise that law. And [when] countries, I think…reinterpret that law or apply their own domestic laws to certain areas and try to enforce them, then I think we’re in a situation which leads to further tensions,” he said. China is a signatory to UNCLOS.
Manalo said he disagreed with the notion that Manila had become “too forward-leaning” in asserting its rights and claims in the South China Sea, so much so that members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have become spooked.
“I don’t understand why countries would consider our actions provocative. Many countries in the region have come out in support of the incidents which happened involving the Philippines…. I think these are countries who feel that what we have been doing is in accordance with international law,” said the veteran Filipino diplomat.
He then added cheekily: “And I haven’t heard any country really come out against what we’ve been doing except for one.”
The Chinese Communist Party-run Global Times, in a report written by three of its correspondents, unsurprisingly viewed the panel through a very different lens. Its report declared: “Expert debunks Philippines’ hypocrisy on compliance with signed agreements at MSC.”
China’s ramming, water cannoning
Tensions in the West Philippine Sea, a part of the South China Sea that includes the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, have steadily risen in recent years as Manila has become more forceful in defending both its sovereign rights and sovereignty claims in the area.
Beijing has responded with violence — using water cannons against Philippine vessels and disrupting Philippine missions to the BRP Sierra Madre, among others. A June 2024 confrontation between the Philippines and China in Ayungin Shoal led to the creation of a “provisional understanding” between the two countries.
Missions to rotate troops and bring new supplies have since been incident-free.
But Manalo put forward a longer-term way to make sure tensions truly go down: for China to “behave professionally.”
“As we all know…certainly, our [Philippine] services are very professional. But unfortunately, last year in 2023 and 2024, the Philippine Coast Guard vessels experienced a number of incidents of ramming, water cannoning, even the use of a laser. Our desire was that perhaps we could behave professionally,” he said.
“If there are any differences, we could use the standard ways of informing other vessels, perhaps if we feel they’re not in the right place here or there. We use the mechanisms provided for by the [International Maritime Organization] and not resort to water cannoning or ramming…. By using these kinds of tactics, we only raise tensions. There are other ways that we can reduce tensions, but these are not the way to do it,” Manalo said, to close out the panel. – Rappler.com