Following a statement by Chinese envoy Zhao Jinhua expressing China’s concern on the matter, the Philippines will no longer participate in the planned joint naval exercises with the United States in November.
According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr., said the Philippine agreed not to join the naval exercise during President Rodrigo Duterte’s meeting with Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua on Monday afternoon.
“China expressed concern over a naval… a military exercise that the United States will be conducting in the area at about the same time that the Chinese President will be in the Philippines,” Roque said at a press briefing.
“The President said that we will not take part in that military exercise,” he added.
“The general consensus was we don’t want anything to mar the visit of President Xi, so I think that the Department of Foreign Affairs will do all that it can to make sure that President Xi’s visit will be fruitful and as productive as we would want it to be,” Roque said. “We want a seamless visit of President Xi.”
The government, meanwhile, expects a “seamless” visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to the country, Roque said, assuring the joint exploration in the disputed West Philippine Sea would be to both countries’ interest.
“The President and Ambassador Zhao discussed the upcoming visit of President Xi to the country this November, which both agreed would further cement the already strong relations between the Philippines and China,” said Roque.
“Both agreed that joint exploration in the disputed West Philippine Sea would be to each other’s interest,” he added.
Earlier, a CNN report said the US plans to send ships and aircraft near China’s territorial waters during the same period of the Chinese President’s visit to the Philippines.
According to Roque, China reiterated that they do not desire any military confrontation with any of the claimant states or powers, believing that having conflicts will have dire consequences in their commerce.
Jinping was expected to visit Manila after the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Papua New Guinea in November.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano previously assured the public that the framework for the proposed joint exploration hunt for oil and gas deposits with China in the WPS will not be “harmful” to the country’s territorial and sovereign rights.
“We are working hard, and we assure our people that it will be something that will be totally beneficial to all the Filipinos,” Cayetano said. “It will not be harmful in any way to our territorial and sovereign rights.”
In a statement, Zhao said that China President Xi Jinping of China spoke highly of the favorable growth momentum enjoyed by Philippines-China relations, and the continued progress made in bilateral practical cooperation in various fields.
President Duterte underlined that he and the Philippine people looked forward in real earnest to the first-ever state visit to the Philippines by President Xi, which would surely be remembered as another milestone in Philippines-China relations. He also added that the Philippine side would work closely with the Chinese side to make full preparations to ensure a safe, smooth and completely successful visit, Zhao said.
He also conveyed President Xi’s cordial greetings and best wishes to President Duterte and briefed President Duterte on latest developments and future plans of China-Philippines relations and practical cooperation. He stressed that China would work with the Philippine team to make comprehensive preparations and planning for the upcoming high-level exchanges between the countries. He was confident that the complete success of the visit would definitely bring China-Philippines relations to a new high.
