In dealing with each other, the Philippines and China have been guided by the principle that the West Philippine Sea (WPS) friction is not the sum of their relations, which should be respected amid increased tensions.
Trading barbs about spying, with the recent incidents involving three Filipino students accused of espionage and the arrests of alleged Chinese spies, has worsened the already frayed ties.
Beijing detained three Filipinos who it claimed were operatives for Manila and carried out secret intelligence tasks in China; yet, these individuals were cleared as scholars.
Worse, the National Security Council alleged that a video released by China’s state broadcaster, in which the three Filipinos expressed regret, “appears to be scripted, strongly suggesting that they were not made freely.”
While the propaganda mills are active in both nations due to the sea conflict, the involvement of civilians should always be avoided.
For years, both nations have leaned on the principle that kept equanimity despite the recurring maritime friction. Both nations walked a diplomatic tightrope but with cautious optimism. The balancing act appears to be heading towards a dead end, leaving little room for trust or reconciliation.
The trading of sharp accusations should be backed by incontrovertible proof, since espionage is a serious accusation that fuels more distrust, which both nations should work hard to ease.
Beijing’s detention of the three Filipino students was obviously a retaliation to the crackdown on alleged Chinese spies, many of whom were arrested for gathering sensitive data near military and government sites.
The maritime disputes have now deteriorated into a war of suspicion, with each side pointing fingers while denying wrongdoing.
The tit-for-tat escalation paints a grim picture. The arrests and counter-arrests are not just isolated incidents but symptoms of a broader erosion of goodwill.
The West Philippine Sea, long a flashpoint, is no longer the sole battleground; mistrust has seeped into every corner of their dealings. As both nations dig in their heels, the prospect of meaningful dialogue fades, replaced by a cycle of recrimination that threatens to sever what little remains of their diplomatic lifeline. Without a drastic shift, Philippines-China relations risk becoming a casualty of their own making — stranded at an impasse with no clear path forward.
Diplomatic experts suggest more dialogue and confidence-building measures to de-escalate frictions, where only open-minded officials are involved.
Neither side can afford to let pride or posturing dictate their engagement, since too much is at stake, from regional stability to economic ties.
A moratorium on public mudslinging and aggressive rhetoric must start. The espionage accusations have fanned the flames.
A truce in the war of words and a commitment to handle such cases discreetly through diplomatic channels could lower the temperature. Transparency, where possible, should also be followed.
An exchange of information is in order. China must clarify the status of the detained Filipinos, while the Philippines could share evidence behind its spying allegations to avoid the perception of baseless provocation.
Talks far from incendiary channels, away from the spotlight, should continue.
These worked before, during the term of former President Rodrigo Duterte, when designated informal discussions smoothed over rough patches.
The usual topic was joint fishing agreements in less contentious waters to rebuild lost confidence.
The WPS dispute will not be resolved overnight. Beijing and Manila have acknowledged this, but both have proved that they can still sit at the same table without drawing knives.
The ASEAN, which could be a pivotal buffer, is hardly missed in the balancing of power in the region.
ASEAN can exert more pressure on the binding WPS Code of Conduct, which has been on the back burner for two decades.
A CoC would be a small, tangible win but will signal goodwill without any of the protagonists losing face.