South China Sea: Beijing to talk fishing rights and Philippines not a military ‘staging post’, Marcos Jnr says

China has agreed to ‘sit down’ and talk about fishing rights and a map was being drawn up to be presented to Beijing, the Philippine president said

Marcos Jnr also said ahead of his meeting with US President Joe Biden that he would not allow his country to be a ‘staging post’ for military action

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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr welcomes Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang to the Malacanang Palace in Manila during a courtesy call last month. Photo: Presidential Communications Office Handout via AFP

Published: 2:32pm, 1 May 2023Updated: 3:22pm, 1 May 2023

Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr said China has agreed to discuss fishing rights in the South China Sea, as he pushed for a “direct communication line” with Beijing on maritime differences – and said he would not allow his country to become a “staging post” for military action.

China has agreed to “sit down” and talk about Filipinos’ fishing rights in the South China Sea, Marcos said, adding he has asked the Philippine coastguard and the Department of Foreign Affairs “to put together … a map of these fishing grounds” that will be presented to Beijing.

In remarks made to reporters while on board a plane to Washington, Marcos also said a Philippines-China “direct communication line” must be finally adopted, when asked about his thoughts on a recent maritime confrontation between the two countries.

Filipino fishermen aboard a wooden boat sail past a Chinese coastguard ship in the Scarborough Shoal area of the South China Sea last year. Photo: AFP via Getty Images/TNS

“The overall priority is to safeguard our maritime territory,” he said, in remarks issued by his office.

The Chinese embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Philippines accused China’s coastguard on Friday of “aggressive tactics” following a recent incident during a Philippine coastguard patrol close to the Philippines-held Second Thomas Shoal, a flashpoint for previous altercations located 105 nautical miles (195km) off its coast.

The United States has urged China to stop harassing Philippine vessels in the South China Sea. Beijing said it was willing to handle maritime differences with countries of concern through friendly consultations, while warning Washington against interference.

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