Julio S. Amador III; Deryk Matthew N. Baladjay; Florence Gamboa; Lisa Marie F. Palma
Jun 23, 2022
"The BCM... affords the parties to compartmentalize issues. Separating the contentious issues from other aspects of the bilateral relations enables the two countries to discuss and look for possible areas of cooperation. This includes the economic and the sociocultural facets of the bilateral relations and non-traditional security issues. Spaces like these allow for positive engagement necessary in maintaining peaceful relations and preventing conflicts in the future."
ARS and FACTS Asia published a new report observing how the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) between the Philippines (PH) and China (PRC) fared well under the Duterte administration.
The report is divided into four (4) parts. Firstly, the report contextualizes the PH-PRC BCM with the tense political situation in the South China Sea and shows how the BCM became the preliminary mode of communications between the two countries. Secondly, the report provides an overview of the BCM from the standpoint of the Philippines and China. Thirdly, the report highlights developments in the last six years where the BCM became at the forefront (or not) of the Philippines-China relations. Lastly, the report finishes on how to best interpret the Philippines-China BCM in the years ahead, in time for the next PH leadership transition.
This report is published both in ARS and FACTS Asia.