Potential revival of joint Phl-China coast guard pact 'not detrimental' to WPS stance

Talks are underway for a potential renewal of a joint cooperation agreement between the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the China Coast Guard (CCG), Philippine officials confirmed, though they emphasized that no final decision has been made.

In an ambush interview in Makati City on Thursday, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela, said the proposal for renewed collaboration remains under inter-agency review and will not be decided solely by the Coast Guard.

“I think this is similar to the joint Coast Guard cooperation we had during the previous administration, but as to the details of that, I don’t have any specific information yet,” Tarriela said, referring to initiatives under former President Rodrigo Duterte. 

“The joint Coast Guard cooperation between China and the Philippines is not something new. This has been done during the former President Duterte,” he added. 

Tarriela clarified that any agreement, including a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the PCG and CCG, would undergo scrutiny by relevant agencies, including the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea, chaired by the National Security Adviser.

“Well, anything that will be presented like this kind of joint Coast Guard cooperation, it will not just be unilaterally decided by the Philippine Coast Guard. It will be vetted by significant government agencies, and of course,” he said. 

“So I don't think that any cooperation that we're going to have will be detrimental to our position. As I said, the Philippine Coast Guard always supports policy direction being headed by the DFA,” he added. 

The possible revival of the cooperation pact comes as part of ongoing efforts under the Bilateral Consultative Mechanism on the South China Sea (BCM), a diplomatic platform that has enabled the Philippines and China to manage tensions and maintain open lines of communication.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, speaking during a Senate hearing on the DFA’s proposed 2026 budget earlier this week, confirmed that discussions on the MOU are ongoing. 

She said the MOU would address operational issues and help prevent future incidents in the contested West Philippine Sea.

“Hopefully, there will be a conclusion between the Philippine Coast Guard and the Chinese Coast Guard—an MOU for them on certain issues that involve both sides,” Lazaro said.

The 10th BCM meeting, held on 16 January 2025, in Xiamen, Fujian Province, was described by both parties as “frank and constructive.” 

During the meeting, officials discussed maritime incidents, including the Philippines’ rotation and re-provisioning (RORE) missions to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal. 

Both sides acknowledged that a provisional understanding helped de-escalate tensions but reaffirmed their respective national positions.

Tarriela, for his part, underscored that coast guard cooperation should not be viewed solely through the lens of territorial disputes, but also includes other maritime functions.

“It's not about the position of our issue in the West Philippine Sea. There are various and very diverse maritime functions that the Coast Guard has, whether it's related to search and rescue, environmental protection. It's not just about the West Philippine Sea,” he said. 

Tarriela also asserted. “It’s a welcome development in case it pushes forward because it's going to be a platform for cooperation.”

Still, he reiterated that the PCG would defer to the guidance of the DFA and national security bodies before making any commitments.

“As long as cooperation by itself is cooperation, then that would be something positive,” Tarriela said. “But again, nothing is final yet.”

The Philippines is expected to host the next round of BCM talks later this year, with discussions likely to include the recent confrontation at Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), where Chinese vessels were again involved in an encounter with Philippine ships.

The Philippines-China BCM, created in 2016 following the state visit of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to Chinese President Xi Jinping, serves as a venue for both countries to keep regular dialogues in pursuit of stable development of their bilateral relations on specific concerns. 

It has since served as a confidence-building process for both sides to manage and address differences, to promote practical maritime cooperation and environmental protection, and to enhance mutual trust and confidence.