Senator Imee Marcos on Friday, April 23, urged the President Duterte to immediately appoint a special envoy to China to discuss the continued presence of Chinese militia in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), pitching his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio as a "preferable" choice for the post.

Marcos, chairwoman of the Senate economic affairs committee, made the call as she threw her support behind President Duterte’s policy of shunning confrontation and instead “pursuing common ground with China and other maritime claimants” to ease security tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

“Preferably, a member of the Duterte family like Mayor Sara,” Marcos said.

The senator said appointing a relative of the President would be a “very Asian strategy” that would supposedly lend a "personal touch" to the bilateral talks between the Philippines and China. She added that it will also ensure a "frank discussion of developments with the President."

Besides the appointment of a special envoy to China, Marcos also recommended a “verbal ceasefire” as another immediate measure “to set the ground for sense rather than spite to prevail.” “Diplomatic protests are certainly in order, but constant confrontation delays consensus and is really not the Asian way of solving disagreements,” she said.

She said the government can take its bilateral and multi-state negotiations "to the next level," from joint treaties on fishing, exploration, crime-fighting and coastal management in disputed maritime areas, to completing the joint South China Sea Code of Conduct among Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) states and China.

“Malaysia and Vietnam are showing the way. They’re now finalizing a memorandum of understanding on shared security and use of maritime areas under dispute,” Marcos cited for instance.

She said the Duterte administration’s policy of pursuing shared interests should be expanded.

“Besides agreements between member states, the whole ASEAN must also propel a joint Code of Conduct with China to its completion. It’s been almost 20 years since it was proposed and only general terms have so far been agreed. Let’s finish it ASAP!” Marcos said.

“The emphasis of foreign policy is to pursue shared goals rather than just unilateral interests, if harmony is to be achieved,” she added.

Duterte-Carpio and Marcos are allies under Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP). The Davao City mayor endorsed Marcos' senatorial bid during 2019 midterm elections.

Ramon Tulfo, Jr. was the President's special envoy to China since October, 2018. Tulfo, last February, said he is not certain if he still holds the post since his second six-month term already lapsed last year, although he noted that his appointment has not been revoked.