China, Philippines vow consultations on South China Sea<\/p>\n
Agencies, Manila<\/p>\n
Chinese Defense Minister Chi Haotian and his Philippine
\ncounterpart Angelo Reyes vowed on Sunday vowed to use \"peaceful
\nconsultations and negotiations\" in dealing with territorial
\nconflicts in the South China Sea.<\/p>\n
Both officials also emphasized increased cooperation in
\ncounter-terrorism and in the modernization of the poorly-equipped
\nPhilippine military in a joint statement just before Chi departed
\nfor China.<\/p>\n
Reyes and Chi said both countries were committed to \"address
\nthe South China Sea dispute through peaceful consultations and
\nnegotiations\" with the aim of making the area into \"waters of
\npeace and cooperation.\"<\/p>\n
Chi, who was on a four-day goodwill visit, said he supported a
\n\"mechanism to resolve the issue,\" of conflicting claims by China,
\nthe Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Taiwan and Malaysia to islands
\nin the South China Sea.<\/p>\n
Reyes said China was willing to take part in the drafting of
\nthe \"code of conduct\" for the claimants which has been proposed
\nto ease tensions over the Spratly islands in the South China Sea.
\nHowever both officials did not give specifics on China's role in
\nforging the code.<\/p>\n
The code was first proposed by the Philippines but has been
\nheld up by disputes over the wording and the area it would cover.
\nChi reiterated that China was supporting the Philippines in the
\nwar against terrorism and was ready to hold exchanges and
\ncooperation in this area.<\/p>\n
Reyes also said Beijing was ready to provide support and
\nassistance in modernizing the Philippine military. Officials
\nearlier said that during the trip, China offered 40 military
\ntrucks costing three million dollars and Mandarin language
\ntraining programs for Filipino military personnel.<\/p>\n
Chi's visit came amid a diplomatic row between China and the
\nPhilippines over the detention of 122 Chinese fishermen for
\npoaching and illegal fishing. China sought their immediate
\nrelease, but Philippine officials insisted they should plead
\nguilty, which they did last Friday, and pay fines.<\/p>\n
China also has objected to a possible Philippine military
\npurchase of used F-5 fighter jets from Taiwan, which Beijing
\nconsiders a renegade province not entitled to political or
\nmilitary ties with other countries.<\/p>\n
The Philippines reiterated its adherence to a \"one China
\npolicy,\" which Chinese Ambassador Wang Chungui said was a
\nguarantee that the Southeast Asian nation would not entertain any
\nmilitary deal with Taiwan.<\/p>\n
Chi emphasized in the statement that China and the Philippines
\n\"are close neighbors and share mutual support\" and do not have a
\n\"history of war and confrontation.\"<\/p>\n
\"I don't believe the differences or disputes between our two
\ncountries should block the furthering of friendly relations,\" the
\n72-year-old Chi told reporters before boarding a China Southern
\nAirline plane. \"Our stance has been consistent that we need to
\nengage in peaceful negotiations to settle all the disputes
\nbetween us and we surely can promote our relations in the spirit
\nof mutual trust and mutual benefit.\"<\/p>\n
Meeting Chi on Saturday, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
\nsaid the Philippines has avoided actions that could aggravate
\nterritorial disputes, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said.<\/p>\n
Arroyo called for intensified cooperation with China in the
\nfight against terrorism that also would build confidence. Both
\nChi and Reyes said the United Nations should play a leading role
\nin the fight against terrorism.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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