PH-China relations go beyond West Philippine Sea issues — MarcosMANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Friday that the ongoing challenges in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) should not be the sole factor shaping the relationship between the Philippines and China. When asked about potential agreements to ease tensions in the South China Sea, Marcos said that he and Xi Jinping agreed that the West Philippine Sea issues should not overshadow their diplomatic relationship. He also mentioned plans for another meeting with Xi to address recent incidents and find solutions to reduce tensions in the South China Sea. Essentially, we tried to come up with mechanisms to lower the tensions in South China Sea,” the president said. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague invalidated Beijing's claim over nearly the entire South China Sea in a 2016 ruling.

Source: Philippine Star November 18, 2023 10:05 UTC