Recommending that we abandon bilateral talks with China, Alejano has suggested multilateral talks. Perhaps Alejano thinks that the transition from bilateral to multilateral talks would be just as easy as going out of one room and entering another. Furthermore, if Alejano thinks that multilateral talks will make the bargaining position of the Philippines against China stronger, he’s mistaken. If he thinks the process would be faster through multilateral talks, he’s delusional. In multilateral talks, the Philippines needs to persuade all the parties to agree to what it wants.

Source: Manila Times June 13, 2018 16:42 UTC