As the Philippines prepares to host the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and related forums next month, Bicol Saro Party-list Representative Terry Ridon stated that the country must remain ready for “any eventuality” in its diplomatic engagements with China.
According to Ridon, Manila needs to actively advance its national interests while simultaneously keeping avenues for broader collaboration open.
He noted that member-states are expected to firmly defend their respective positions during the regional meetings, even as they look for ways to deepen ties beyond territorial disagreements.
“The Philippines should be ready for any eventuality from all its dialogue partners,” Ridon said.
“Even if China is a formal partner in various ASEAN dialogues, we are certain that the Philippines and its other allies on South China Sea concerns will pursue their respective national interests during these proceedings,” he added.
China regularly participates in key ASEAN-led mechanisms, including the ASEAN-China Summit, the ASEAN Plus Three, the East Asia Summit, and the ASEAN Regional Forum.
The 49th ASEAN Summit is set to take place from November 16 to 18, with the Philippines serving as the official host amid ongoing maritime tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Despite these territorial friction points, Ridon pointed out that both Manila and Beijing have repeatedly acknowledged that their diplomatic ties encompass much more than their long-standing maritime dispute.
“More important, as emphasized by China and the Philippines, the bilateral relations between our countries has always been more than our territorial dispute,” Ridon emphasized.
“Other areas of cooperation may still be pursued: economic, trade, cultural and people-to-people cooperation can proceed despite WPS concerns,” he explained.
Expressing full confidence in the administration’s diplomatic machinery, Ridon concluded, “We trust the DFA to be able to pursue our national interests in all of these proceedings.”