By Chen Xiangmiao

The tenth meeting of the China-Philippines Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea (BCM) was held in Xiamen, Fujian last week. The Chinese side lodged serious protests regarding the Philippines' recent maritime infringements and provocative activities as well as its peddling of the maritime disputes between China and the Philippines and urged the Philippine side to strictly adhere to the provisions of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).

The BCM has played a visibly significant role in addressing related issues in the South China Sea between China and the Philippines. The significance of the BCM lies in preventing misjudgments caused by poor communication between the two sides and avoiding exchanging accusations from a distance that could lead to emotional confrontations. At the same time, regular contacts and consultations not only serve to enhance mutual understanding, trust, and recognition but also represent essential steps toward advancing practical cooperation between the two sides and exploring peaceful solutions to disputes in the South China Sea.

In fact, at the beginning of 2023, the Philippines unilaterally suspended relevant crisis management mechanisms, including the hotline between coast guard agencies, which led to heightened maritime disputes and escalating tensions between China and the Philippines. This further underscores that dialogue is the only viable solution for addressing disputes related to the South China Sea. It is precisely because of this clear understanding that other relevant countries involved in the South China Sea issue such as Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia have chosen dialogue over confrontation with China to address the South China Sea issue.

Facts have proven that friendly dialogue is the only feasible option for appropriately managing disputes in the South China Sea. However, the Philippines' actions, including supply missions aimed at reinforcing the grounded warship on Ren'ai Jiao to achieve long-term occupation, intrusions into Huangyan Dao to assert claims and pursue the illusion of regaining control, as well as propaganda and operations around Xianbin Jiao with the intent of seizing it, have not only led to a rapid escalation of tensions at sea but also undermined the atmosphere for friendly dialogue and proper dispute resolution between China and the Philippines.

At the same time, these unilateral actions by the Philippines have gradually diminished and even hollowed out the role and significance of the BCM. They have shifted the trajectory of the South China Sea order, which the two sides had worked to establish through this mechanism, from focusing on advancing practical maritime cooperation and exploring potential solutions for resolving disputes fundamentally to merely managing immediate tensions and conflicts. In addition, the Philippines unilaterally interrupted the hotline between the two countries' coast guard agencies. It has led to the loss of the hard-earned mutual trust between their law enforcement bodies and deprived their frontline forces of the basic conditions necessary for timely and effective communication.

China and the Philippines should draw on their experiences and work together to explore solutions for the proper management and resolution of the South China Sea disputes. The maritime disputes between China and the Philippines have experienced numerous setbacks, compounded by complex factors such as interference from external powers like the US and the illegitimate ruling of the South China Sea arbitration. However, the two sides have repeatedly returned to the negotiation table time and again despite these challenges. From this perspective, the maritime interactions between China and the Philippines can offer lessons or insights for other relevant countries of the South China Sea issue in handling their respective maritime disputes.

2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the Philippines. Over the past 50 years, although there have been ups and downs in bilateral relations, the overall tone has remained one of mutual benefit, win-win cooperation, and peaceful coexistence. The Philippines should not forget where South China Sea consultations began, but instead, work hand in hand with China to continue managing and resolving the South China Sea disputes through dialogue.

(The author is the director of the Center for South China Sea History and Culture, the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, and a part-time researcher at the Huayang Center for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance)

Editor's note: Originally published on opinion.huanqiu.com, this article is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information and opinions in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.