Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan announced that China is preparing for the fourth round of bilateral political dialogue with the Philippines, amid reports of alleged Chinese construction activities at Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal, in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Positive Developments Cited
According to Ambassador Jing, there have been “positive developments” between the two countries, and both sides wish to continue resolving issues through the existing dialogue mechanism. The statement comes after the maritime monitoring group SeaLight reported signs of possible construction in the area.
However, the Chinese Embassy in Manila has yet to issue an official statement regarding the report. Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has also not released any official comment on the SeaLight findings.
Verification Ongoing
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro are reportedly verifying the information contained in the report about alleged construction activities at Scarborough Shoal.
The last bilateral political dialogue between the Philippines and China was held in Cebu in January, prior to discussions on a Code of Conduct in the WPS between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Ambassador Criticizes 'Anti-China Forces'
Despite the planned dialogue, Ambassador Jing criticized what he called “anti-China forces” that he claimed are hindering the improvement of relations between the two nations. According to the ambassador, certain groups are attempting to slow down and undermine the positive relationship between China and the Philippines.
