Philippines will "never accept" China's claim on the Scarborough Reserve - Philippines FM Lazaro

Summary of YouTube Video: Interview with Philippine Foreign Secretary Tess Lazaro

Key Concepts:

• South China Sea/West Philippine Sea disputes
• US-Philippines alliance and Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT)
• Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA)
• One China Policy
• ASEAN and Code of Conduct (COC) for the South China Sea
• Corruption in the Philippines
• Filipino nationals abroad and immigration issues
• Economic diplomacy

1. Domestic Governance and Corruption:

• Public Protests: The Foreign Secretary acknowledges the wave of demonstrations in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, and attributes them to citizens' expectations of good governance, particularly regarding corruption.
• Government Response: President Marcos Jr. addressed corruption in his State of the Nation Address and initiated a "cleansing process" within the government. He appointed a new Secretary of the Department of Public Works and established a joint commission to investigate corruption. Travel restrictions have been imposed on individuals under investigation.
• President's Reliability: The Secretary defends President Marcos Jr.'s reliability in addressing corruption, emphasizing that he initiated the process himself.
• Image Abroad: The Secretary claims that despite corruption revelations, the Philippines' image abroad remains solid, citing her bilateral meetings where the issue was not raised.
• Measures of Success: Concrete measures of success will be convictions of individuals involved in corruption, based on investigations by the House and Senate.

2. US-Philippine Relations:

• Ongoing Dialogue: The US-Philippine relationship is described as continuously moving forward, with ongoing discussions on tariffs and economic cooperation.
• Economic Corridor: The Luzon Economic Corridor, a trilateral project involving the US, Japan, and the Philippines, is highlighted.
• Financial Assistance: Despite the end of US aid, a recent agreement on healthcare and other areas involves nearly $250 million in assistance.
• Defense Cooperation: Continuous discussions between the Department of Defense (DOD) in both countries and maritime cooperation are ongoing.
• Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT): The MDT will be triggered if one party invokes it. President Marcos Jr. stated that a "red line" would be a Filipino casualty resulting from a skirmish.

3. South China Sea/West Philippine Sea Disputes:

• Bilateral Consultative Mechanism (BCM): The Philippines and China maintain a bilateral mechanism (BCM) to discuss issues related to the South China Sea. All concerned agencies are involved.
• Incident in August: Regarding the incident where a Chinese Navy ship rammed a Chinese Coast Guard vessel, the Secretary emphasizes the importance of dialogue and diplomatic solutions.
• Support from Like-Minded Countries: The Philippines relies on support from like-minded countries, including those in the EU and the United States.
• Economic Strength as Defense: The Secretary emphasizes that economic strength is crucial for the Philippines' security and seeks support for trade and investments.
• Second Thomas Shoal Provisional Arrangement: A provisional arrangement with China for resupply missions to the Second Thomas Shoal has been in place since June 17 of the previous year. There have been 10 successful rotations and reprovisioning missions without incidents.
• Emergency Hotline: A presidential hotline between Beijing and Manila is still under discussion and has not been implemented. However, communication at the foreign ministry level is functioning.
• Scarborough Shoal: The Philippines protested China's announcement of a nature reserve at Scarborough Shoal, considering it a violation of Philippine territory.

4. ASEAN and Code of Conduct (COC):

• Code of Conduct (COC): The Philippines is working with ASEAN and China to finalize the Code of Conduct for the South China Sea by 2026.
• Difficulties: Sticking points include whether the COC should be legally binding and the scope of the agreement.
• Philippines' Chairmanship: The Philippines will assume the ASEAN chairmanship in 2026 and aims to foster unity within the bloc while standing firm on its claims.
• Myanmar: The Philippines will continue to support the five-point consensus on Myanmar and work with previous chairs to promote dialogue and diplomacy.

5. Taiwan:

• One China Policy: The Philippines adheres to the One China Policy.
• Economic Interaction: Economic collaboration and interaction with Taiwan are increasing, particularly in trade and investments.
• Contingency Planning: The Philippines is focused on contingency planning to protect the nearly 200,000 Filipinos in Taiwan.
• Coordination: Agencies interacting with Taiwan coordinate with the Department of Foreign Affairs.
• Official Visits: The rules on official visits to Taiwan remain largely unchanged, with restrictions on high-ranking officials.

6. Filipinos in the US:

• Immigration Crackdown: The Philippines is taking steps to protect Filipinos caught up in the US immigration crackdown.
• H1B Visas: The Philippine embassy in Washington is coordinating with the State Department on H1B visa issues.
• Detained Filipinos: The embassy and consulates are assisting detained Filipinos and seeking assurances that they will not be sent to third countries.
• Seafarers: The Department of Migrant Workers is handling the case of Filipino seafarers arrested and deported from the Carnival Sunshine.

7. Philippine Foreign Policy:

• Friends to All, Enemy to None: The Philippines' foreign policy is based on being "friends to all, enemy to none."
• Strengthening Relations: The Philippines is actively strengthening and expanding its relations with countries worldwide, including those in Africa and Latin America.
• South-South Cooperation: The Philippines aims to share its technical expertise, particularly in migration management, through South-South cooperation.
• Economic Diplomacy: The Department of Foreign Affairs is strengthening its economic diplomacy office to promote trade and investments.

Conclusion:

The interview provides insights into the Philippines' multifaceted foreign policy challenges and priorities. The country is actively navigating complex relationships with major powers like the US and China, while also addressing domestic issues such as corruption and protecting its citizens abroad. The Philippines emphasizes dialogue, diplomacy, and economic partnerships as key tools for advancing its interests and maintaining regional stability.