Despite sea feud, Beijing says ties with Manila can flourish

In this July 3 file photo, protesters carry a boat painted with slogans during a rally outside the Chinese Consulate at the financial district of Makati city, east of Manila

The Chinese ambassador in Manila said yesterday that trade between China and the Philippines grew last year despite their protracted territorial conflicts, providing hope their relations could flourish even as tensions remain.
Ambassador Zhao Jianhua also played down reports that Chinese President Xi Jinping may skip the annual APEC summit to be hosted by Manila in November because of the conflicts. He said no decision has been reached because the Philippine government only sent its invitation recently.
“Despite the difficulties we have, I think last year bilateral trade grew 17.6 percent and our trade stands at over USD44 billion,” Zhao told reporters after speaking in a Manila business forum, where he highlighted how trade and investment between the Asian neighbors could still expand considerably.
“From these figures, you can see that our bilateral relationship is quite strong … so that gives us hope for a better relationship,” Zhao said.
While China is a large Philippine trading partner, the trade volume has lagged far behind Beijing’s trade and investment in other Southeast Asian countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Zhao reiterated China’s offer for both countries to settle their differences through one-on-one negotiation and not through international arbitration.
“Come back to bilateral talks,” he said when asked what can mend the relations between Manila and Beijing. “It seems that China and the Philippines have different approaches but our preference is peaceful negotiation directly between the two countries.”
A Philippine complaint challenging the validity of China’s vast territorial claims in the South China Sea is pending before an international tribunal in The Hague. The tribunal recently held hearings to address Beijing’s view that the five-man arbitration body has no authority to assume jurisdiction over the complaint.
The long-simmering disputes among China, the Philippines and four other governments flared again last year when Beijing launched massive island-building in seven disputed reefs in the South China Sea’s Spratly Islands. The United States and its allies, including the Philippines, have asked China to halt the massive offshore constructions, fearing the artificial islands could be used by Beijing to block freedom of navigation and threaten rival claimants.
China has dismissed those fears, saying it has owned the territories since ancient times and has a right to build there.
“No single commercial ship has been affected negatively when they go through the South China Sea,” Zhao said, adding that “the stability and peace in the South China Sea has been maintained despite the differences we have.” AP

philippines nabs 155, mostly chinese, for working illegally

Philippine authorities said yesterday that 155 foreigners, mostly Chinese, face deportation after being arrested for working in the country illegally. The foreigners were apprehended Monday in Pasay City, just outside of Manila, where they were working as call center agents or online gambling operators, Immigration Bureau spokeswoman Elaine Tan said in a statement. She said the foreigners failed to present documents showing they can legally work in the Philippines and would be charged with violating immigration laws. Her statement said most of those arrested are Chinese, but did not give a specific number.