China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said Wang Yi urged Manila to oversee politicians he accused of attacking China during a Nov. 3 call with Ma. Theresa Lazaro, the Philippines’ foreign affairs secretary.
The ministry said Wang accused a small number of politicians of attacking and smearing China, politicizing ordinary economic, trade and people-to-people exchanges, and infringing on the rights and interests of Chinese people and institutions in the Philippines. The statement did not name the politicians or specify their remarks or the infringements he alleged.
Wang called on Manila to oversee those individuals and send a “rational, unified” message on China policy. He also urged the Philippines to implement its One China policy and exercise caution on maritime issues.
The Chinese readout portrayed Lazaro as supporting stable, predictable relations and dialogue on maritime matters. It attributed to her a pledge that the Philippines’ One China policy would not change. Beijing said both sides agreed to maintain diplomatic talks and manage differences responsibly.
Channel NewsAsia, citing an AFP report, said Lazaro described the call in a social media post as “frank and constructive.”
The maritime tensions have a legal dimension. In a 2016 ruling on the Philippines-China arbitration, the tribunal found no legal basis for China’s historic resource claims in areas covered by the nine-dash line. It left land sovereignty and maritime boundary questions unresolved. China’s Foreign Ministry rejected the award.
The Associated Press reported that Manila summoned Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan in October after the Department of Foreign Affairs objected to remarks it viewed as a threat to use force. EconoTimes previously covered Manila’s summons of Jing.
The Chinese readout said the ministers also discussed an upcoming East Asia leaders’ meeting in the Philippines and a later APEC leaders’ informal meeting in Shenzhen. It gave no dates or specific follow-up steps.
