China sought to reassure Philippines over new coastguard law, envoy says

Chinese said they’re not targeting the country or any specific nation and they won’t resort to force in the first instance, according to ambassador in Beijing

Jose Santiago Sta. Romana says Manila objects to the law being applied to all waters claimed by China

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China’s new coastguard law has heightened concerns that it could take a more aggressive approach in maritime disputes. Photo: AP

Published: 8:00pm, 16 Feb 2021Updated: 11:30pm, 16 Feb 2021

China has again sought to ease tensions with the Philippines over its controversial new coastguard law, saying it is not aimed at the Southeast Asian nation or any other country, according to Manila’s top envoy in Beijing.

“The Chinese have reassured us through their foreign ministry spokesman as well as the Chinese embassy [in Manila] that they are not targeting the Philippines or any specific country and they will not resort to force in the first instance,” Jose Santiago Sta. Romana, the Philippine ambassador to China, said in a virtual press briefing on Tuesday.

He was responding to a question about whether the Philippines should summon the Chinese ambassador over the law, which took effect this month and explicitly authorises pre-emptive strikes against foreign vessels in waters claimed by China.

“The Chinese have tried to reassure that they will still exercise restraint,” he added.

Sta. Romana, who has been the Philippine ambassador to China since 2017, also said the language in the coastguard law passed in late January was “more moderate” than its initial draft.

“We have followed the coastguard law,” he said. “Though [the fast-tracking of the legislation] is surprising to most people, [the language] is actually more moderate than the first version when we first reported that the Chinese were considering it.”