Senate bets: Diplomacy can solve sea row

THREE senatorial candidates favored a diplomatic solution to the Philippines' row with China in the West Philippine Sea.

Guesting on Episode 8 of Bakit Ikaw: The TownHall Election Series co-produced by DZRH and The Manila Times, Arnel Escobal, Amirah Lidasan, and Allen Capuyan agreed that the country should pursue nonmilitary responses in resolving its dispute with China.

Escobal, a lawyer and retired police major general, said there was "no enforcement mechanism" to force China to comply with the 2016 arbitral ruling favoring the Philippine claim to the West Philippine Sea.

"There's no enforcement mechanism to implement such a ruling... That's why, because of this conflict, I think the Philippines needs to prepare, and we need to strengthen our Armed Forces of the Philippines," said Escobal, who is running for senator under the Partido Pilipino sa Pagbabago.

"But the solution there should not be a military solution, but a diplomatic solution... We really need to talk. We need diplomacy," he said.

To prevent the South China Sea row from escalating, Escobal said international cooperation was needed from each country involved.

"So many people say that we need to ask for help from the US to implement the arbitral ruling, but that will be a big problem. But right now, because we can't do it, what we need is diplomacy and international cooperation," he said.

"So we have allies like Japan, South Korea, and France, which is one of the members of the Security Council. So, maybe France can help, as well as Australia. So international cooperation in case war is unavoidable. But for me, it's diplomacy," Escobal said.

Lidasan, an advocate of human rights and Moro and Indigenous Peoples, said the Philippines must maintain communication and coordination with the countries concerned in the West Philippine Sea.

"First of all, diplomatically, we have to assert, especially since there was an arbitral ruling that the West Philippine Sea really belongs to the Philippines," said Lidasan, who is a member of the Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan.

"What we need is for our allies to recognize our independence, not to use us for their war," she said.

The US and China are fighting over not just trade but military positioning in the Asia-Pacific, Lidasan said.

The Enhanced Defense Cooperation (EDCA) allows the US to build facilities and preposition supplies and equipment in strategically located bases in the country.

Signed in 2014, EDCA deepens the defense cooperation between the Philippines and the US.

"So they use it to say that the enemy of the US is our enemy, but no, we have an independent foreign policy," Lidasan said.

Under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Philippines expanded US military access by increasing the number of EDCA sites.

Instead of relying solely on US help, Lidasan said the Philippines must widen its alliance with like-minded countries.

Capuyan, a former chairman of the National Commission for Indigenous People during the administration of president Rodrigo Duterte, said the Philippines should continue its independent foreign policy.

"As our foreign policy is that we are a friend to everyone and an enemy to no one and we do not promote war, the Philippines must talk to both countries diplomatically. We cannot be used to escalate a war," said Capuyan, who is running under the Partido Pilipino sa Pagbabago.

He said the Philippines must prioritize diplomacy in resolving maritime tensions with China, underscoring a strategy of peaceful assertion of sovereignty.

"First of all, we have no economic power, and even political power, so how can we survive? We are just sandwiched in the fight between two big countries or neighboring countries. So for me, we have to use diplomacy," Capuyan said.

"Many things have happened and there was no chaos because we talked. If we don't talk, there will be conflict and rift between different groups," he said.

Tension continues as Beijing aggressively asserts its claims to almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce.

Parts of the waterway are also being claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.

Over the weekend, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported that its ship BRP Cabra was shadowed and blocked by China Coast Guard vessel 3302 off Zambales.

"The China Coast Guard vessel 3302 has engaged in reckless and dangerous maneuvers, displaying a blatant disregard for safety," the PCG said in a statement.

The agency also reported an attempted head-on collision involving a smaller coast guard vessel.

"It is only through the seamanship skills and professionalism of the crew of BRP Cabra that such a collision was narrowly averted," it said.

Despite the incident, the PCG said the Cabra fended off the Chinese vessel, which as of Sunday was located 92 to 96 nautical miles off Capones Island in Zambales.

Sen. Francis Tolentino condemned the actions of the Chinese coast guard near Scarborough Shoal, calling them "reckless and dangerous."

"As China continues to undermine our maritime peace and stability, I call on the international partners to hold China accountable for its blatant disregard for the rule of law," Tolentino said.