Philippines plans full e-Visa service for Indians, space MoU with ISRO

Top Philippines diplomat, Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, who is on an India visit, has said that her country is working for full e-visa services for Indians so that tourism increases, with anair services agreement in the works as well. Lazaro is foreign affairs undersecretary (vice minister)at the Philippines Foreign Ministry and was in Delhi for the 14th Philippines-India Political Consultation Talks and the fifth Philippines-India Strategic Dialogue.

Speaking to WION's diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Lazaro said ties between the two countries were on an "upward trajectory" and welcomed the comments by EAM Dr S Jaishankar supporting Philippines sovereignty amid Chinese aggressive actions. She highlighted: "It is very important to us, and we thank the Indian government for the kind of support that has given us, by stating and by supporting the arbitral award of 2016."

She also spoke about the current situation in South China Sea, even as fresh visuals have come of Chinese vessels using aggressive actions on Philippines vessels. Asked if India has been briefed, she said, "We've been talking to your people, your embassy in Manila, they're aware of certain moves that we're making, because you're our allies, you are our friends, like minded partners of the Philippines."

Full interview:

Sidhant Sibal: How do you see India-Philippines ties?

Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro:The relations between Philippines and India are on an upward trajectory. Our presence here, for the 14th political consultations and strategic dialogue is already a manifestation of the strong political, economic, as well as strong socio-cultural relations with India. I have a big delegation, including from defence, and other agencies.

Sidhant Sibal: This is the 75th year of the diplomatic relationship. Anything big we are expecting in terms of new initiatives. How do you plan to celebrate the anniversary year?

Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro: That is something that I believe, with our ambassador here in Delhi, and also India's new ambassador in Manila, and this will be, more or less, their mandate. It will leave a mark in a number of aspects of our relations. But indeed it is very important because India is probably important as well as long time-established diplomatic relations.

Sidhant Sibal: Are you holding the political consultations here, the strategic dialogue as well? What will be the key focus? What will be the agenda like, in terms of talks between the two sides, and issues that will be discussed? We know this is a relationship which is increasingly becoming very substantive

Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro: Consultations are about the whole gamut of political, economic, social, cultural, people-to-people particularly, which is probably the driving force in our relations, people-to-people relations. So of course, the strategic dialogue, there's a lot of defence discussions, as well as, of course, the regional, international issues that are happening around the world.

Sidhant Sibal: Ma'am, we have seen high-level engagement between the two sides. We saw the Indian External Affairs, Dr S Jaishankar, travelling to the Philippines, and he made comments supportive of the Philippines and India has backed the arbitration award of 2016 as well. How do you see those comments by the Indian side?

Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro: Well, that was avery welcoming comment from the Indian external affairs minister. It is very important to us, and we thank the Indian government for the kind of support that has given us, by stating and by supporting the arbitral award, this is very important to us, because the anchor of our foreign policy with regards to the South China Sea, is the 1982 UNCLOS-United Nations convention with the law and the 2016 Arbitral award. So the statement that has been given by the Indian government is very important.

Sidhant Sibal: You specifically take care of ASEAN as well. So as a country coordinator what elements you're looking forward to in terms of how India can engage with the ASEAN grouping? The Philippines is the country coordinator of India-ASEAN ties.

Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro: Well, we've just started the coordinatorship this July, and we're now preparing for the summit that will take place from 8 to 10 October. President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr will be present, and of course, I'm sure the Indian Prime Minister will also be there. But I think what is important here is, functional cooperation and a lot of cooperation in political and economic aspects. If my recollection is correct, there will be two outcome documents that will come out, and we're now working and negotiating documents that will play a very important role.

Sidhant Sibal: In the ASEAN grouping. There are a few challenges as well. One is particular to Myanmar, and essentially, how is the policy of your country over that?

Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro: Well, there are various points there. One is, we support the five point consensus. It has been our policy, that we are of the view that Myanmar, all the stakeholders involved in this situation, should get to talk to each other. We also believe that we have to support the humanitarian aspect. I think the Myanmar people are having their difficulties and challenges, and therefore the humanitarian aspect is very important to us. We would like to play a more important role, and we are just looking into this matter as time progresses.

Sidhant Sibal: India gave the BrahMos missiles to your country. How do you see this?

Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro: For very specific matters, I leave it to our Department of National Defense. But I think theacquisition of BrahMos is a very important aspect of the National Defense position. And I think this will be part of our deterrent capabilities in our present situation, and this will be an important aspect of our defence and security issue.

Sidhant Sibal: There are more plans in terms of defence engagement. There are reports saying that India, the Philippines plan to get a lot of defense assets, like helicopters from India. There is a lot of cooperation when it comes to the coast guards of the two countries. So what do you have to say about that?

Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro: Well, I leave this thing. I'm not very particular, not very knowledgeable of these acquisitions. During the strategic dialogue, we have somebody from our national defenceand maybe in a better position to say.

Sidhant Sibal: One of the big worries emerging from your region is the Chinese aggressive actions, particularly with the Filipino vessels. We have seen those visuals of the Chinese vessels ramming into your vessels. What do you have to say about that, as to what is the current situation on the ground, in fact, on the sea right now?

Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro: Well, thank you for that question. It was just last weekend that there were really a number of incidents which happened. It is the position of the Philippines that despite these incidents, of course, our operational agencies are very much aware of this. However, we do not discount, and we will continue to also, go to that aspect of adiplomatic resolution.Area is really an exclusive economic zone, therefore we have every right to be there, but there still can be a political discussion on this matter.

Sidhant Sibal: But ma'am, do you see the situation getting more worrisome, because almost for months now, we have seen the same things happening there at that location?

Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro: I want to bring you back to the Second Thomas Shoal.At the Second Thomas Shoal, we had some kind of conditional arrangement with China on how to deal with that Shoal. This is where this ship, Sierra Madre is present, due to some diplomatic discussions, we were able to have some conditional arrangement. Now, there is this another issue now on Sabina Shoal and again, despite those incidents that happened, we still think that we cannot discount some possible diplomatic discussions.

Sidhant Sibal: That's a very optimistic view when it comes to China, because India is also facing aggressive actions by the Chinese. But essentially, when it comes to the situation there, have you spoken about the situation with your partners, with your allies?

Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro: Definitely, we have our only treaty ally, the United States, and we are like minded countries who have been supporting us on this matter. They've been giving us very important statements of support. I'm sure you've been reading about it, and we do not want this issue to escalate. And therefore I may sound optimistic, but that's optimism, something that one should, one should also look at. But in this particular matter, we cannot. It's very important since any accidental situation might happen. It is our view that a diplomatic discussion is still something that can be dealt with.

Sidhant Sibal: Have you discussed the issue with India?

Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro: Well, I think to a certain extent, we've been talking to your people, your embassy in Manila, they're aware of certain moves that we're making, because you're our allies, you are our friends, like-minded partners of the Philippines.

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Sidhant Sibal: How do you plan to get more Indian tourists?

Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro: Well, that's a very good question, and we have just been talking to my colleagues here, particularly the ambassador.We're going to fully launch e-Visa. I think it's very important that we also capture a good number of Indian tourists who visit the Philippines and vice versa. So that is the position that we have taken. Perhaps there will be other innovations that we can come out with.

Sidhant Sibal: But no direct flight between India and the Philippines?

Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro: Yeah, it's really unfortunate that, because connectivity is very important, and therefore, I thinkwe have some air services agreementcoming up. It's part of all these political talks.I think it's a matter of time, but we will have some direct flights, Manila-Delhi. What are these visas for if the connectivity is poor, and I think it is up to us to strengthen our connectivity.

Sidhant Sibal: Space cooperation?

Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro: Well, the Philippine Space Agency, a very, very new agency of the government that was established during the time of President Marcos has already started,having discussions, or even a possible MOU with your space agency, and they're looking at your at the Indian Space Agency as one of those agencies that can really assist us in our issues, with the things that can be done through space. So there's a lot of activities that they're coming up with, and I think this is the new development, all these things that are happening in space, a lot of direction and impact, data, agriculture, climate change and so forth and so on.

Sidhant Sibal: Your final words as to, where do you see this relationship going forward?

Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro: Positive and upward trajectory, I can only say that the relations between our two countries will still move upward, and with a possible visit and exchange of visits of high government officials, that it will take its greater heights. And I think it's about 75 years, which is really a monumental number of years of ties. we're looking forward to such an expansion in strengthening ties.