Trillanes to Imee: Investigate PRRD's 'secret deal' with China

Summary

In this video, the speaker discusses a recurring issue spread by Mak Duterte on social media regarding the back-channel negotiations in the West Philippine Sea. The speaker recalls the standoff in April 2012 at Scarborough Shoal, where a Philippine Navy ship was involved in an incident with Chinese fishermen. The situation escalated, and the speaker was appointed as a back-channel negotiator to ease tensions. Through these negotiations, the number of Chinese ships was reduced without surrendering any Philippine territory, ultimately avoiding an armed conflict. The speaker reflects on this achievement as one of their proudest moments in public service.

Takeaways

• 😀 In April 2012, a standoff occurred at Scarborough Shoal, also known as Panatag Shoal, involving Philippine Navy ships and Chinese fishermen.
• 😀 Dozens of Chinese Coast Guard ships intervened, surrounding the Philippine Navy ship, escalating tensions in the area.
• 😀 The standoff lasted for several weeks, with as many as 80 to 100 Chinese ships present in and around Scarborough Shoal.
• 😀 In May 2012, the then-President Aquino officially designated the speaker as the back-channel negotiator to de-escalate the situation.
• 😀 The role of a back-channel negotiator is to act as a messenger, relaying messages between the president and negotiators on the other side.
• 😀 The back-channel negotiations helped reduce the number of Chinese ships in the area from 80-100 to just three ships.
• 😀 The negotiations were successful without surrendering any Philippine territory, maintaining the sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal.
• 😀 The speaker views the successful negotiation as one of their proudest achievements in their career as a public servant.
• 😀 The back-channel talks helped avert an invasion or armed conflict with China, which could have been disastrous for the region.
• 😀 After the de-escalation, when China refused to remove the remaining ships, the Philippines filed an arbitration case, which they eventually won.

Q & A

What is the main issue discussed in the script?

The main issue discussed is the back channel negotiations related to the 2012 standoff in the Scarborough Shoal (Panatag Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea, particularly involving the Chinese Coast Guard and Philippine Navy.

What triggered the standoff in Scarborough Shoal in 2012?

The standoff was triggered when a Philippine Navy ship apprehended Chinese fishermen inside the shoal, leading to the arrival of dozens of Chinese Coast Guard ships which surrounded the area.

What was the role of the speaker in the 2012 Scarborough Shoal standoff?

The speaker was officially designated as the back channel negotiator by President Aquino in May 2012, tasked with easing the tensions and facilitating communication between the Philippines and China.

What is the role of a back channel negotiator?

A back channel negotiator acts as a messenger, conveying messages from the president to the negotiating parties and relaying their responses back to the president.

How did the back channel negotiations affect the situation in Scarborough Shoal?

The back channel negotiations successfully reduced the number of Chinese ships in the area from 80-100 ships to just three, without surrendering any Philippine territory.

What was the outcome of the negotiations in Scarborough Shoal?

The negotiations led to a de-escalation of the situation, with the number of Chinese ships being reduced significantly. However, tensions remained as China refused to remove the remaining ships from the area.

What action did President Aquino take after China refused to remove the ships?

After China refused to remove the remaining ships, President Aquino filed an arbitration case, which the Philippines eventually won.

What does the speaker consider to be their biggest achievement in public service?

The speaker considers averting an invasion or armed conflict with China through the back channel talks to be their biggest achievement in their career as a public servant.

How significant was the role of the back channel negotiations in preventing conflict?

The back channel negotiations were crucial in preventing a major conflict by reducing tensions and averting a potential military confrontation between the Philippines and China.

What was the outcome of the arbitration case filed by the Philippines?

The Philippines won the arbitration case, which helped assert its territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea against China's actions.