harassment, i mean it's not new vessels, it's also fishermen. we of course have approached china almost regularly every time we learn of a situation and really when we explain it to them, our only hope is that they would refrain. but if they're going to impede at least sometimes they should do it in a more friendly way, rather than pointing a laser. what's a more friendly way? well, they can at least ask us not to proceed to this certain to this area, but it doesn't mean that we would necessarily agree, but unfortunately that's the situation now, in certain parts of the south china sea, which are actually part of our exclusive economic zone, where we actually, we have the right to take advantage of whatever resources are there and not the, let's say, prevented from doing so. there doesn't appear to be any obvious way to stop it. ah,

there's no direct way at the moment because what going to do if you have 2 parties and one party insist that's it's territory the china does claim parts of our e z. and certainly they consider it part of their territory. but we do not. so it's actually, it's, it was down to, to them preventing us from using parts of our exclusive economic zone. the problem is they deny that they actually have prevented us from doing it sometimes saying that they did not really prevent us. they were just guiding us away from certain area. so it's, it's, it's one of those things. now, it's been quite a few years since the philippines, one, it's arbitration case in the hague. china, of course, still seems determined to ignore it. how has this ruling really help the philippines then? well, it has confirmed at least the fact that the, the chinese claim, or the so called 9 dash loan, does not hold water and is inconsistent with the un convention of the sea. and

because of this, we have garnered support from various countries on the interpretation of that ruling. of course, china does not recognize the rulings. all we can really do at this stage is, is continue to distress the rule of law. and if there are any differences or disputes, they should be settled in accordance with the rule of law. this week, when official has said that washington and manila are exploring joint coast guard patrols, washington is also increasing its military presence in the philippines. how would you describe the philippine position now in terms of balancing us in china ties well, you know, as of every country in the region, we're faced with the growing us china rivalry. actually, what is these arrangements we have with united states that are really part of our existing treaty mutual defense treaty and more specifically the visiting forces

agreements. but many of these operations are really aimed that improving our humanitarian disasters or natural disasters. aside from perhaps also serving if necessary, training in case we run any security threats. president marcus has articulated that the philippines will be a friend to all and an enemy to non. this will clearly not always be possible, especially given that the u. s. and the philippines or treaty allies, what sort of red lines does the philippines have? that would make it invoke the mutual defense treaty, that it has what the u. s. being friends to all or friends doesn't necessarily mean you don't have any problems with your friends or any issues. but we as friends, the, the whole idea is if we have differences, we should try and was of them peacefully, or at least in a friendly way. that's what we're trying to say. and in the case of china,

we do have extensive relations with china, especially on the economic front. and there's always been this understanding, at least for the past few years, that the differences we have in the west. we would be in see or south trying to see or not the sum total of our relationship. nevertheless, we do have differences there. so while we wish to, let's say, enhanced our economic ties. and we also need to address the challenges we face in the south china sea. is it really possible to isolate economic ties with china, from the wider security concerns about the region? well, that's the challenge. that's why i think we live in a very complex world. that's why in many ways, it's not as simple as it was. let's say, during the cold war because you have differences yet you have strong areas of corporation and many interests are love. so it's really

a matter of trying to see how you can manage it, but we do have to see we do have to keep on harping on the, on the need to address these differences fairly and squarely. and as the president said, i mean with these many incidents of the south china sea, he does take a toll on our, on public opinion. and we have tried to bring this to the attention of, of china that we as much as we want to be friends. and we also have to address the concerns of the philippine public and incidence in the south try to see doing on health. there's also, of course, a possibility that the wider situation and the region deteriorates. let's assume that anything can be on the table from a full scale invasion of taiwan, a bi china to an incursion on the outlying islands that are controlled by ty, pay. what is the philippines plan in case any of this happens?

of course i can't divulge the the plans, but there are plans. but our policy here is really to see that nothing serious happens. i mean, no military conflict occurs and i want because our, our view is that, well, 1st of all, size and the fact we have 150000 b knows i want is only the southern most steep of the wind is only about 70 can ometer is from the northern most tip of the philippines in the lusan. so obviously, any, any military conflict there will most likely directly affect the philippines. that is our, our main concern is preventing or helping to prevent a conflict. so we don't have to undertake whatever emergency the emergency actions to get that are safely when you say, helping to prevent the conflict. what does that mean? we always have told the,

the main parties that was ample when the tensions rose last year that the, we urge them to stay in touch with each other regularly. we don't know how they stay in touch, but hopefully their military and political leaders are in such to, to talk and see whether to prevent any kind of incident from escalating. so that's something we have to certainly help to prevent. that's what i'm interested in this particular point. does the philippines have a say, do we have any leverage over these 2 countries that would prevent them from going to war with each other? well, we may not have leverage where we can voice our concerns to them. and we could also say, always mentioned the implications which we do whenever we talk about i one, whether to the united states, china, we're speaking from a concern country in the region. and our hope is that, you know, any incident does not escalate to conflict. that's the way we can help. of course,

we cannot control what they do, but we can always speak and voice. our concerns fighting again of the expansion of the american military presence in the philippines. what does this, does that decision say about the level of concern in milan, young about whether this invasion of taiwan or an escalation could happen? well, actually, well, the way this operates is not that it's not that the americans forces. are there the whole time. they're there only for certain operations and then they leave is not necessarily, i'd say a some would like to say there because of the us china rivalry. but it's really part of the ongoing and visiting forces arrangement with a philippines addressing perhaps even our own security needs, because it also provides training to our forces. and in that way it does help us. well, the chinese certainly seem to think that the stars have a lot to do. in fact, with the us china rivalry in the region. they have said that countries in the

region should avoid being coerced and used by the united states. that was in reference to the basis, how have you responded? that seems to be the, the basic line and, you know, i think the maybe one of the issues there for chide as they view everything in the prism of the us china rivalry. whereas in our case, we try and make the point that the situation is a little bit more complex because we have our own legitimate national interest in this. so for example, if we get, if our fishermen are harassed and we complain, we're not doing it because the united states told us to complain. we're doing it because the fishermen have complain and it becomes a in a way and national issue because their livelihood is being affected. and so it's not necessarily because of the us china rival. we have our own direct concerns which are affected and of course are right to use the easy i don't think that has

anything to do with the us china rivalry as far as we're concerned. so our only hope is that china takes a more nuanced view and why we are sometimes protesting and not necessarily because it's a us, china issue. analysts have argue that for the us to be a truly effective counter for china in the region, it should step up its economic contribution to the region instead of concentrating purely on military and defense. yes, we've made that point with united states that it would be good if there you got nomic imprint would also increase in our region. i think many countries have made the point the united states now is taking the lead in the, in the pacific economic framework exercise. ah, but it's still in, it's some nascent stages. so we have to see how that develops a, what is essentially a aimed at m increasing economic ties between the indo pacific countries in the,

in the pacific. so we'll have to see how that develops. but certainly, um, we feel always be good if the u. s. economic imprint as well as the use economic imprint in our region would become bigger. does this mean you do not think the us and that you are doing enough? they could probably do more. they are doing something, but they could probably do more than there were some ideas at some suggestions that the you should also consider increasing it. cy, economic gum presence in the indo pacific region, including the philippines because that in many ways would help us not only development because ties would also, you know, increase the influence of law and contribute to having a more am free and open a region. and i, i region moran run, i'm on the run on the basis of the rule of law. thank you very much like you

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ah ah ah ah, this is dw news lived from berlin, no less up in the fighting is the 1st anniversary of the war and ukraine approaches . we report from the front line city of thought liberated by ukrainian forces, but living in fear of a fresh russian unsold. also coming up the united nations considers a 10 point piece plan before it by you.