Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with the new Philippine President, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., on Wednesday July 6, when, according to Nikkei Asia, China is hoping for a “new golden age” in diplomatic relations between the two countries, despite territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
This visit comes at a time when Washington is working to strengthen its alliance with Manila, after rocky relations with former President Rodrigo Duterte, the newspaper notes.
On the program of the exchange between the two men, according to the message published by President Marcos on Twitter at the end of the meeting: agriculture, energy, infrastructure and, he writes, “our commitment to maintain a good relationship between the two countries”.
Ahead of the meeting, Marcos said tensions in the South China Sea would also be on the agenda. Manila recently formalized through diplomatic channels its disagreement with Chinese actions in the disputed waters, an area in which Beijing has common claims with Southeast Asian states.
“Let’s do other things”
Beijing has ignored the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling that found China’s claims to maritime areas also claimed by the Philippines unfounded.
President Marcos stressed that talks with China must go beyond the maritime dispute.
“Let’s do other things”, he said, citing cultural, educational and even military exchanges. “Thus, we will normalize our relations.”
Outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte had during his six years in office forged close ties with Beijing, moving away from the traditional alliance with the United States.