Relations between China and the Philippines appear to be normalizing, and this can only bode well for both sides which have had such strong economic, diplomatic and cultural ties for the past few decades.

Add to this list the law enforcement ties, which takes a giant step forward next month when the Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal Matters (MLAT) between the two countries takes effect.

Under the treaty, fugitives from one country can no longer hide in the other. The treaty enables the two countries to go beyond their jurisdictions and to seek help from their treaty partner to enforce the law and to go after criminals.

The treaty comes at a time when transnational crimes are on the upswing. Some crimes are committed by organized mobsters, while others are committed by individuals; but all pose a danger to civilians of whatever country they are committed in, and who have figured out an easy escape for their dastardly activities, be it drug trafficking, human smuggling, grand larceny, murder or rape.

It is no secret that Chinese criminals have always considered the Philippines a safe haven, knowing that law enforcers from their home country cannot just come to this country to hunt them down. The same is true for Filipinos running away from the law, who head for such Chinese territories as Hong Kong or Macau or even the mainland itself to avoid arrest.

The MLAT changes all that.

The treaty, which takes effect on November 18, allows both countries to gather and exchange information for the better enforcement of laws. According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, the agreement provides a legal framework for assistance in the investigation and prosecution of criminal offenses that would allow for the taking of testimony of witnesses, the provision of documents and items of evidence, the exchange of criminal records, the execution of searches and seizures, the location and identification of witnesses and the tracing and confiscation of proceeds of crimes, as well as the freezing of assets.

With the MLAT, the playground of criminals in this part of the world has just gotten smaller.

It should be noted that the Philippines has similar treaties with other countries, and that China ratified the MLAT ahead of the country, which needed ratification by the Senate for it to take effect.

Festering problem
The treaty comes at a time when the differences between the Philippines and China over Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal have remained in limbo. While still unsettled, the war of words has at least abated. The saber rattling by both sides has ended, at least temporarily.

A visit by a former, and well liked, Chinese ambassador to the Philippines last week helped ease the tensions, as well as the donation by the country—also last week—to victims of an earthquake in China not too long ago.

Consider that before the intrusion of Chinese vessels into Philippine waters earlier this year, relations between the two countries were both healthy and friendly.

The issue has not yet been settled, to be sure. And China remains adamant that a bilateral solution be worked out, without any other country joining the fray. For its part, the Philippines continues to insist that the problem has become a regional concern, and that the United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea be the basis for resolving the differences between the two states.

Whatever the two countries agree on, both sides are at least willing to resort to diplomacy to find a lasting solution, one that will not harm the interests of either side.

As the year draws to a close, trade and tourism exchanges between China and the Philippines are expected to return to the same healthy levels that existed prior to the boiling over of the West Philippine Sea problem.

No one expects either country to give up its claim. Both sides believe that they are on the side of right, and also of history in the case of China.

The two sides can start by continuing to agree to disagree, and never resorting to acts that can be misconstrued as an act of war or aggression. They can also continue backroom as well as open diplomatic talks.

China is expected to elect a new leadership soon. Between now and that time, the best course of action to take would be to keep the Panatag Shoal problem in the backburner. It is not known how the next president of China will want to handle the problem, and how he will rein in the Chinese military, which has been at the forefront of the angry exchanges of words.

It may take the longest time, but the issue will be resolved sooner or later.