China and the Philippines will hold direct talks on their maritime dispute in May, Filipino officials said Wednesday, as President Rodrigo Duterte seeks stronger economic ties with Beijing. Last year a United Nations-backed international tribunal rejected Beijing’s claims to most of the South China
China and the Philippines will hold direct talks on their maritime dispute in May, Filipino officials said Wednesday, as President Rodrigo Duterte seeks stronger economic ties with Beijing.
Last year a United Nations-backed international tribunal rejected Beijing’s claims to most of the South China Sea, including disputed areas close to the coasts of its neighbours.
But Duterte, elected last year, has played down that ruling and pushed for rapprochement with China as he seeks billions of dollars in trade and investment from it.
China this week offered to host a meeting in May of a “bilateral consultation mechanism” to tackle issues related to the sea row, the Philippine foreign department said.
“This is a new proposal, a bilateral consultation mechanism specifically on the South China Sea,” spokesman Charles Jose told reporters.
China rejects the tribunal’s ruling and asserts sovereignty over almost all of the South China Sea, despite partial counter-claims from Brunei, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.
