PH in no hurry to start bilateral talks with ChinaThe Philippine government is in no hurry to hold bilateral talks with China but would like to start with “things that you can agree on” and avoid confrontation, Malacañang said on Friday. Asked the international tribunal’s ruling on Manila’s arbitration case will be discussed with China, Abella said: “If things, circumstances allow, then they will talk about what they can talk about.”For now, Abella said the government is finalizing a “package” of issues that will be discussed with China in the bilateral talks. The territorial spat with China and the mission of Ramos were among those discussed by President Duterte with four former presidents, cabinet members and other security officials during the NSC meeting in Malacañang last Wednesday. Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said former President Fidel V. Ramos, the country’s special envoy to China, has been given “principles of wisdom” to stick to the diplomatic route amid the maritime dispute with China during the recent National Security Council (NSC) meeting. “Basically, it’s a very diplomatic rule instead of confrontation,” he added.

Source: Manila Bulletin July 29, 2016 09:22 UTC