Palace: No info if Obama will raise South China Sea issue in APEC

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang on Friday said that it has no information if United States (US) President Barack Obama intends to raise the South China Sea dispute during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Manila next week.

"I have no information on the intent of US as a member economy and where they intend to raise the said issue," Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a press briefing.

US Ambassador Philip Goldberg earlier disclosed that Aquino and Obama will be discussing the rising tensions in the South China Sea on the sidelines of APEC.

The two presidents are also expected to discuss the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, currently under scrutiny at the Philippine Senate.

READ: Noy, Obama to tackle sea dispute, EDCA | Obama airs concern on sea row at UN

“All the member economies are fully aware that it’s an economic forum, such that geopolitical or political concerns usually take the backseat to the economic issues that are discussed in any Leaders’ Retreat,” Valte said.

Although the Chinese side showed no indication to have a bilateral meeting with the Philippines, President Benigno Aquino III and Chinese Xi Jinping will have the chance to talk about the sea dispute as they will be seatmates during the summit.

“The opportunity for the president and President Xi Jinping will always be there if they wish to talk about issues that are bilateral in nature,”  APEC National Organizing Council Director General Marciano Paynor Jr. in a press briefing on Thursday.

Paynor explained that it is normal practice for the current, previous and future hosts of the APEC summit, called the “troika,” to be seated together.

China clarified that it has no plan to discuss the South China Sea dispute during the APEC summit.

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