RP, China ties remain stable

RP, China ties remain stable

MANILA (AFP): Relations between the Philippines and China
remain calm, despite a dispute over a group of islands in the
South China Sea, foreign affairs spokesman Oscar Valenzuela said
on Thursday.

The Foreign Affairs office was working closely with its
Chinese counterparts to firm up details of President Joseph
Estrada's talks with Chinese leader Jiang Zemin, when they meet
in next week's summit of Asian and Pacific leaders in Malaysia,
Valenzuela said.

"Despite what the international media and the local media are
saying, what is important is what is taking place between our two
governments and that until now our exchanges have been calm,"
Valenzuela told radio station DZBB.

Armed forces chief of staff Maj. Gen. Joselin Nazareno said on
Wednesday he had ordered navy ships patrolling the area to fire
warning shots to deter Chinese ships from venturing too close.