Philippines tells China to build trust, credibility before South China Sea talks

TALKS between the Philippines and China on their South China Sea dispute must be built on mutual trust to ensure progress, Manila's defense chief said on Sunday, stressing that Beijing must first build credibility before meaningful dialogue can take place.

- By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. said China has a "deficit of trust" in relation to the disputed waterway, making reference to Mischief Reef, a disputed atoll in the contested Spratly Islands that Beijing fortified into a military base after an intense infrastructure build-up in the last decade.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately reply to a Viber message seeking comment.

"For dialogue to be effective, it must be coupled with trust," Mr. Teodoro said during the security forum's plenary session, based on a Youtube livestream. "That is the biggest stumbling block to dispute resolution or dialogue with China."

"China has a lot of trust-building to do to be an effective negotiating partner in dispute settlement," he added.

Manila and Beijing have repeatedly locked horns over disputed features in the South China Sea, leading to escalating tensions as both remain firm in their claims in the waterbody that serves as a vital shipping route for global trade.