DFA, nilinaw na diplomasya pa rin ang pinaiiral ng Pilipinas sa usapin sa West PH Sea
DFA, nilinaw na diplomasya pa rin ang pinaiiral ng Pilipinas sa usapin sa West PH Sea;
China, wala umanong maipakitang dokumento na magpapatunay na nangako ang Pilipinas na aalisin ang BRP Sierra Madre sa Ayungin Shoal
China, wala umanong maipakitang dokumento na magpapatunay na nangako ang Pilipinas na aalisin ang BRP Sierra Madre sa Ayungin Shoal
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NewsTranscript
00:00 The Department of Foreign Affairs has denied that there is no document or record that can prove the Chinese claim that the Philippines is leading in removing the BRP Sierra Madre from the Aeung Insol.
00:15 This is contrary to the first statement of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
00:20 According to DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo, they first asked China for a copy of the agreement on this, but they were not able to give it.
00:29 In 1999, the government placed the BRP Sierra Madre in Aeung Insol as a sign of the Philippines' right to the so-called territory and as a military outpost, which has been long denied by China.
00:43 DFA said that the government will continue to push the Philippines' right to the West Philippine Sea in a diplomatic manner.
00:52 At this point, if DFA is to be asked, has China done any act of war so far?
00:59 Well, I really have to check with the definition of act of war, but I really, as I mentioned earlier, we're still committed with China to manage our disputes peacefully. And that's the way that we're both working.
01:11 In order to strengthen the strength of the Philippines, the government is also planning to sign a new Visiting Forces Agreement with a country near China, although DFA has not yet specified which country it is.
01:25 From August 22 to August 24, the Foreign Affairs Department said that it is in the process of continuing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, with China, the negotiation for the creation of the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea.
01:42 If this works, it will help the country, especially in the eyes of DFA, they are not sure if there will be enough support in the international community to push the United Nations General Assembly Resolution against China.
01:57 They've already had two or three significant rounds of negotiation and in fact, the next round is scheduled to be held here in Manila. So it's in this forum where all the members of ASEAN and China are actually meeting in the same body.
02:14 All of this was raised in the deliberation of the House Committee on Appropriations regarding the DFA's budget for the next year.
02:24 The agency is asking for a budget of more than P24 billion for 2024, which is bigger than their budget for 2023, despite the trust of the lawmakers who will fund the planned programs and activities of the agency for the next year.
02:41 Kagayandi Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez is also pushing for the creation of the West Philippine Sea Development Authority in the country under his House Bill No. 8857 to strengthen the government's role in the current challenges there.
02:58 Melalee Esmoraz for the Bayan.
03:01 [BLANK_AUDIO]