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Philippines rejects restoring direct China military communication channels

The Armed Forces of the Philippines said it would not coordinate directly with its Chinese counterpart ahead of maritime operations, citing international-law issues and warning that prior channels failed to build trust.

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The Philippine military has rejected calls from Beijing to restore direct communication channels with China, warning that the lack of contact could raise the risk of miscalculation during South China Sea confrontations, according to SCMP Economy.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines said on Tuesday it would not communicate with its Chinese counterpart in advance of its maritime operations, arguing such channels were ineffective without mutual respect for international law.

A retired Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, a spokesman for the military’s operations in waters the Philippines considers its territory, said the channels had not improved trust and accused Beijing of using them as a smokescreen for conduct Manila describes as coercive and aggressive.

Trinidad also said the Philippine military backed Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro’s decision to suspend direct communication channels with China.

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