China eyes ‘oasis of peace’ in Southeast Asia

MANILA, Philippines — China wants an “oasis of peace” in Southeast Asia and anchors its hopes on achieving this by being “permanent” friends with the Philippines and continuing to work with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The statement was issued Friday as China received Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and his entourage in Tengchong City, southern province of Yunnan, for an Oct. 9-11 official visit upon the invitation of Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday the two foreign ministers held a bilateral meeting on Saturday to take stock of priority political and economic bilateral cooperation initiatives.

Wang expressed that the Philippines and China must stay “permanent” friends regardless of any changes in the international situation and “shelve” the South China Sea dispute.

Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said China wants to “make this region an oasis of peace and a promising land of development, and provide greater stability and inject more positive energy to regional and global development.”

“China hopes and believes that, as members of the Asian family, ASEAN countries will continue to work with China to firmly uphold multilateralism and international justice, (and) safeguard regional peace and stability,” Hua added.

The DFA said both sides reaffirmed the continuing vitality of relations despite the constraints imposed by COVID-19, and pledged to forge ahead with sustained policy dialogues, economic and infrastructure cooperation projects.

Wang affirmed China’s commitment to supporting President Duterte’s infrastructure drive under the flagship “Build, Build, Build” program.

A Xinhua report said Wang told Locsin that China will continue to support the Philippines in its fight against the pandemic until the final victory, as well as providing any necessary anti-coronavirus resources and sharing experience in fighting the pandemic.

The China Global Television Network (CGTN) also reported that Wang said during the meeting with Locsin that China and the Philippines are close neighbors and that staying permanent good friends fully conforms to the two peoples’ fundamental interests and hopes.

The CGTN report said the Chinese minister hoped that Manila and Beijing would continue to manage differences through dialogue and cooperation, noting the two sides have accumulated “useful” experience in properly handling the South China Sea issue.

He added that the two countries should also “shelve” the disputes to avoid affecting the hard-won momentum of improvement and development of bilateral relations.

The Arbitral Award the Philippines won on July 12, 2016 has been shelved by the Duterte administration, resulting in more unlawful acts of intimidation and bullying by Beijing in the South China Sea.

The DFA said the two foreign ministers also engaged in a candid and in-depth exchange on regional security concerns, including issues of mutual interest in the context of ASEAN-China relations in which the Philippines acts as coordinator, and in broader multilateral fora.

At the meeting’s close, Locsin and his counterpart confirmed the establishment of a Fast Lane for Urgently Needed Personnel Exchanges between the Philippines and China to facilitate, with due safeguards, the movement of essential official exchanges and travel by personnel in crucial industries such as business and trade, infrastructure, logistics, production and technical services.

Joining Locsin in the visit were his wife Ma. Lourdes Locsin and DFA officials – Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific affairs Meynardo Montealegre, Ambassador Jose Santiago Sta. Romana, chief of presidential protocol and presidential assistant on foreign affairs Robert Borje, and officials of the Philippine embassy in Beijing.