The Chinese Embassy’s deputy chief of mission and minister counselor claimed that Beijing had been reaching out to Manila but it had yet to respond to China’s proposed bilateral talks on tensions in the South China Sea. | santostinaINQ /PDI
According to Zhou, China has repeatedly expressed its willingness to resolve differences with the Philippines through bilateral dialogue.
Zhou also said China was willing to accelerate the consultation on a code of conduct on the South China Sea together with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations . But Jonathan Malaya, assistant director general of the National Security Council, has disputed that claim, saying there is “no record or any minutes of a meeting, formal report, legal document, or verbal agreement” showing that the Philippines had agreed to remove the BRP Sierra Madre. He also challenged China to produce such a record.
He also said the government, then headed by President Joseph Estrada, had planned to run more ships aground in “strategic places” in the West Philippine Sea.The former president’s son, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, said in a press briefing on Monday: “During my phone conversation today with former Sen. Orly Mercado, who held the position of defense secretary during my father’s tenure, he confirmed that there was no agreement or promise whatsoever made to the Chinese government.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
US stands with PH vs. Chinese 'intimidation' in South China Sea —US State Dep't officialThe United States stands with treaty ally the Philippines in the face of harassment by China&39;s coast guard in the South China Sea and remains deeply concerned about "intimidation" by Beijing, a senior US official said on Tuesday.
Read more »
US stands with Philippines against Chinese 'intimidation' in South China Sea – official'Such actions and behavior on the part of Beijing are truly unacceptable,' says US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink.
Read more »
Chinese militia boats cross Indian, ASEAN warships exercising in South China SeaAn independent expert says Beijing appeared to be using the militia to intimidate and disrupt the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise which has with naval ships and aircraft from India, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia and Brunei taking part.
Read more »
Chinese militia boats cross ASEAN, Indian warships exercising in South China SeaBoats belonging to a Chinese maritime militia approached an area where navies of India and ASEAN countries were taking part in drills in the South China Sea, two Indian sources said on Monday.
Read more »
Chinese FM begins Southeast Asia tour as South China Sea tensions flareSINGAPORE: China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Singapore Thursday at the start of a three-nation regional tour, Beijing's embassy in the city-state said, as tensions flare with the Philippines in the South China Sea.
Read more »
Vietnam opposes China’s unilateral South China Sea fishing banChina imposes the ban on fishing in a vast area of the South China Sea each year since 1999 and Vietnam routinely opposes it.
Read more »