Chinese official here amid Benham storm
A CHINESE official is due in Manila today to meet with President Rodrigo R. Duterte and his economic team, China’s foreign ministry announced on Tuesday.
“At the invitation of the government of the Republic of the Philippines, Vice-Premier Wang Yang of the State Council will pay an official visit to the Philippines from March 16 to 19,” spokesperson Hua Chunying of the foreign ministry said in a regular press briefing.
Mr. Wang arrives today as Manila seeks clarification to Beijing over reported presence of Chinese survey ships last year near Benham Rise — a vast rise off the eastern coast of the main island of Luzon — as well as Reed Bank in the South China Sea, which is claimed by both countries.
Mr. Wang will also keynote the China-ASEAN Year of Tourism and China-Philippines Economic and Trade Forum, Ms. Hua said.
“We believe Vice- Premier Wang Yang’s visit will further enhance mutual trust between China and the Philippines, deepen China-Philippines good neighborliness and friendship, advance practical cooperation between the two countries in various fields and take China-Philippines relations to a new level,” the spokesperson said.
Last week, Chinese Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan visited the Philippines, which led to Beijing’s commitment to fund at least three infrastructure projects here worth $3.4 billion and the signing of a $ 1- billion purchase agreement for Philippine agricultural products.
Mr. Duterte’s landmark visit to China last year, which Chinese President Xi Jinping had said could help “fully improve” ties that were tested by a territorial dispute in the South China Sea, saw $24 billion worth of agreements signed.
Mr. Duterte will return to China in May to attend a multilateral summit, China’s foreign ministry said last month. That trip will mark his second visit.
CHINA NOT CHALLENGING PHL RIGHTS
The issue of Chinese vessels surveying Benham Rise was also raised in Ms. Hua’s press briefing — where she welcomed Mr. Duterte’s remarks amid concerns to the contrary raised by his officials, particularly Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana.
“China welcomes and commends relevant remarks by President Duterte. As he said, China and the Philippines have already communicated and had a friendly exchange of views on the relevant issue, clarified the facts and appropriately handled the issue,” Ms. Hua said.
Benham Rise is believed to be potentially rich in mineral and natural gas deposits apart from its diverse marine ecosystem.
Benham Bank is the shallowest portion of Benham Rise, which includes an outer section recognized as Philippine territory in 2012 by the United Nations’ (UN) Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.
Mr. Lorenzana last week described China’s presence at Benham Rise as “very concerning,” adding the Chinese ships “sometimes” stayed for as long as a month in search of areas there to park their submarines.
In response, another spokesperson of the Chinese foreign ministry, Geng Shuang, noted the UN’s recognition of Manila’s ownership to Benham Rise “does not mean that the Philippines can take it as its own territory.”