Chinese FM calls Philippines to fulfill commitments over Ren'ai Jiao issues, warning over US intermediate missile system deployment
When meeting with Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo in Vientiane, Laos on Friday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned the Philippine side over the deployment of a US intermediate missile system, and called on the Philippines to fulfill its commitments and refrain from changing its position as China has recently reached a temporary arrangement with the Southeast Asian country on the transportation and replenishment of humanitarian supplies to Ren'ai Jiao (Ren'ai Reef).
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China and the Philippines are close neighbors across the sea, and good neighborliness, mutually beneficial cooperation and common development are in the fundamental interests of the two countries, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
He noted that the positive and negative lessons of China-Philippines relations in recent years have proved time and again that it is not easy to build good relations, but it is easy to destroy them.
At present, Wang said, China-Philippines relations are facing serious difficulties and challenges, are rooted in the fact that the Philippine side has repeatedly violated the consensus of the two sides and its own commitments, continuously pushed the infringement of rights at sea and magnified negative aspects of public opinion.
China is gravely concerned about and firmly opposes recent developments, Wang said.
He added that if the Philippines introduces a US intermediate missile system, it will create regional tension and confrontation, triggering an arms race, which is totally not in line with the interests and aspirations of the Filipino people.
Wang said that China has recently reached a temporary arrangement with the Philippines on the transportation and replenishment of humanitarian supplies to Ren'ai Jiao in order to maintain the stability of the maritime situation. The key is for the Philippine side to fulfill its commitments and refrain from changing its position. Otherwise, he noted, China will respond resolutely.
Wang pointed out that bilateral relations are now at a crossroads and there is no way out of conflict and confrontation, except for dialogue and consultation.
He expressed the hope that the Philippine side will seriously think about the future of China-Philippines relations and work with China to push bilateral relations back on the right track at an early date.
Manalo, for his part, said the Philippines and China have a long history of traditional friendship and have established a comprehensive strategic cooperative relationship based on equal treatment and mutual benefit, Xinhua reported.
Despite the difficulties and challenges faced by the two sides due to maritime issues, the Philippines is committed to easing the situation through dialogue and consultation, and dealing with differences constructively, Manalo said.
He noted that the recent meeting of the bilateral consultative mechanism on the South China Sea, during which both sides agreed to manage the maritime situation, reflects the goodwill of both sides without compromising on their respective positions.
The Philippines is willing to implement this consensus, Manalo said, noting that next year is the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China, and the Philippines is willing to strengthen communication with China in a sincere and pragmatic manner to enhance mutual trust and improve bilateral relations.