Chinese ships to visit RP

Chinese ships to visit RP

MANILA (AP): Chinese navy ships will visit the Philippines next week as the two countries try to strengthen relations after a territorial dispute, officials said yesterday.

The Chinese frigate, destroyer and escort ships will be in Manila March 23-26 after visiting Thailand and Malaysia, Chinese and Philippine officials said.

The two countries have agreed to increase exchanges of visits by government and military officials following the easing of a dispute over the Spratlys, an island chain in the South China Sea.

Chinese navy officers leading the 600 sailors in next week's visit are to meet with their Philippine counterparts, officials said. The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1975.