RP told not to harm China ties

RP told not to harm China ties

MANILA (AFP): China admonished the Philippines yesterday to
refrain from moves that could harm bilateral relations following
a Christmas day visit by Philippine military officials to a
Filipino-held island in the disputed Spratly islands chain.

The statement issued by the Chinese embassy here urged the
Philippines to stand by a principle of "shelving disputes while
seeking common development," which the two governments reiterated
during Chinese President Jiang Zemin's state visit here last
month.

"China hopes that the Philippine side could strictly abide by
the above-mentioned principle and refrain from any move to harm
friendly bilateral relations," Hao Yinpiao, spokesman of the
Chinese embassy here said in a statement.

Officials led by Philippine military chief Lt. Gen. Arnulfo
Acedera made a surprise visit on Dec. 25 to Kalayaan island, the
largest of seven islands secured by the Philippines in the South
China Sea.