ASEANEWS HEADLINE-ASIA GEOPOLITICS | CHINA’S 9-LINE | MANILA: Chinese envoy tells Philippines government: Let’s talk
STAR / File – Pirate of the West Philippine Sea: Jing Quan
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WATCH VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dArc19Stp2k
Philippines Condemns China’s Aggressive Naval, Air Patrols in Disputed Sea
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Philippines Condemns China’s Aggressive Naval, Air Patrols in Disputed Sea China has conducted naval and air patrols in the disputed South China Sea, accusing the Philippines of provoking tensions. The video explains the military maneuvers, rising regional conflict, and the ongoing standoff between Beijing and Manila.
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MANILA, Philippines — China’s top diplomat urged the Philippines to talk with China in order to find ways to manage differences, while admitting that winning a confrontation with a smaller neighbor risks losing a long-term relationship.
In his remarks at a Lunar New Year reception on Tuesday, Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan suggested that the two sides sit down and talk.
“My own reflection is that, in recent times, we have not been meeting each other enough. Political dialogue has at times nearly come to a standstill,” Jing said. “This situation must change, and it must change quickly.”
“One may easily win a confrontation with a smaller neighbor, but you hurt your relations with the neighbor for a long, long time. Nobody wants to resort to force, nobody wants to fight with each other. That hurt our relationship for a long time. That is why China’s side always advocates dialogue. Let’s sit down. Let’s talk. Let’s find ways to manage differences,” he added.
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He said meeting face to face will help make things work as the dialogue between the two countries resumed in Cebu last month after over a year.
“Eventually we can have more political dialogues,” he said.
Jing also hit “certain noises” that spread “false narratives, smear China and stoke confrontation.”
“We will continue expanding practical cooperation – using positive momentum to offset those noise, until such distortions find no audience and no believers,” he said.
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The Senate approved on Monday a resolution condemning Chinese embassy officials’ undiplomatic remarks against Philippine officials who were speaking out on West Philippine Sea (WPS) issues and defending the country’s sovereignty.
The Chinese embassy called the Senate resolution a political stunt and accused legislators of repeatedly resorting to “threats” and “intimidation.”
‘No contribution to bilateral relations’
China’s ban against the entry of Kalayaan, Palawan town officials who declared Chinese diplomats persona non grata does not contribute to the “good and vibrant” ties with the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.
“While preventing the entry of foreign nationals into their territory is a country’s sovereign prerogative, such actions do not contribute to fostering good and vibrant bilateral relations, especially in reinvigorating people-to-people interaction, which both the Philippines and China have committed to,” the DFA said.
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The Sangguniang Bayan of Kalayaan declared Jing and his predecessor, former ambassador Huang Xilian, persona non grata within the municipal jurisdiction of Kalayaan in Palawan, citing violating diplomatic protocol and interfering in Philippine internal affairs.
The Chinese embassy in Manila retaliated, banning 16 people from Kalayaan, including local officials led by Mayor Beltzasar Alindogan. The ban also covers Hong Kong and Macau.
Kalayaan is the country’s only municipality located inside the WPS and is considered the frontline of Philippine sovereignty in the area.
Expressing support for officials of Kalayaan, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla dared the Chinese government to also ban him from entering China should he visit the town.
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“I will go there myself then they should ban me,” he said in a message on Viber.
Remulla did not disclose when he will visit Pag-asa island, the town’s lone barangay.
“I will pay them a visit soon to reinvigorate our sovereign claim,” he said.
Remulla stressed the Kalayaan Group of Islands is part of the country’s territory, contrary to China’s claim that it has jurisdiction over the municipality.
“We have been inhabiting it for over a century. In fact, it has its own LGU (local government unit),” he said. — Emmanuel Tupas
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