CHINESE Ambassador Zhao Jianhua said Monday China will change its focus from pointing out its differences with the Philippines to working out their common interests”•even as a senior Cabinet official scored the Chinese for breaking their promise to then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to allow Filipino fishermen to fish in the West Philippine Sea.
In a chance interview at the commemoration of National Heroes’ Day in Taguig, Zhao said that while China could not accept the UN ruling against its claims in the West Philippine Sea, Beijing was willing to move forward to enhance its ties with the Philippines.
“We cannot accept the arbitration award but we do look forward to talk to the Philippines bilaterally of the troubles we have,” Zhao told reporters.
“But right now, we need to change our focus from our differences to common interests so we can concentrate on cooperation that will benefit our tw peoples.” Zhao made his statement even as a group of travel agents from China criticized the alleged discriminatory policy of the Bureau of Immigration towards Chinese nationals wanting to visit the Philippines.
The agents offer tour packages to the Philippines, but they said they had received reports that some of their clients were being turned back in Manila by Immigration officers.
Immigration said 364 Chinese nationals were stopped from entering Manila in July as part of the bureau’s intensified campaign to prevent undesirable aliens from coming to the Philippines.
But the travel agents slammed the bureau’s admission policy, saying it was singling out their countrymen whose only desire was to visit Manila and enjoy the world-class beaches in Boracay, Bohol, Palawan and Davao.
Zhao made his statement after President Rodrigo Duterte, who spoke as a guest of honor in the same event, assured him that the Philippines would not raise the arbitration ruling to ensure that the bilateral talks with China continued.
“I will not use the arbitral judgment now, but one day I will lay bare my position,” Duterte said.
He also appealed to China to allow Filipino fishermen to fish over the contested waters.
“I hope you treat us as brothers and not as enemies and take note of the plight of our citizens,” Duterte said.