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| China and Philippines to resume dialogue over South China Sea dispute | China and Philippines to resume dialogue over South China Sea dispute |
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| China and the Philippines have agreed to resume a dialogue on their dispute over the South China Sea, a senior Chinese diplomat has said after talks between the countries’ leaders. | China and the Philippines have agreed to resume a dialogue on their dispute over the South China Sea, a senior Chinese diplomat has said after talks between the countries’ leaders. |
| The move appeared to be a diplomatic victory for Beijing several months after an international arbitration tribunal invalidated China’s expansive territorial claims over the resource-rich waters in a case put forward by the Philippines. | The move appeared to be a diplomatic victory for Beijing several months after an international arbitration tribunal invalidated China’s expansive territorial claims over the resource-rich waters in a case put forward by the Philippines. |
| The Philippine president, Rodrigo Duterte, met his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in Beijing as part of a charm offensive aimed at seeking trade and support from the Asian giant by setting aside the thorny territorial dispute. | The Philippine president, Rodrigo Duterte, met his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in Beijing as part of a charm offensive aimed at seeking trade and support from the Asian giant by setting aside the thorny territorial dispute. |
| Duterte hailed a warming of relations with China and said ties between them went back centuries. | Duterte hailed a warming of relations with China and said ties between them went back centuries. |
| “China has been a friend of the Philippines and the roots of our bonds are very deep and not easily severed,” he told Xi in his opening remarks. “Even as we arrive in Beijing, close to winter, this is a springtime of our relationship,” he added. | “China has been a friend of the Philippines and the roots of our bonds are very deep and not easily severed,” he told Xi in his opening remarks. “Even as we arrive in Beijing, close to winter, this is a springtime of our relationship,” he added. |
| Xi said the meeting had “milestone significance”. In a reference to the South China Sea tensions, Xi said that “although we have weathered storms, the basis of our friendship and our desire for cooperation has not changed”. | Xi said the meeting had “milestone significance”. In a reference to the South China Sea tensions, Xi said that “although we have weathered storms, the basis of our friendship and our desire for cooperation has not changed”. |
| Following the talks, the Chinese vice foreign minister, Liu Zhenmin, told reporters that the leaders only touched on the topic briefly during their talks. | Following the talks, the Chinese vice foreign minister, Liu Zhenmin, told reporters that the leaders only touched on the topic briefly during their talks. |
| “Both sides agreed that the South China Sea issue is not the sum total of the bilateral relationship,” Liu said. | “Both sides agreed that the South China Sea issue is not the sum total of the bilateral relationship,” Liu said. |
| The two sides agreed to return to the approach used five years ago of seeking a settlement through bilateral dialogue, he said. | The two sides agreed to return to the approach used five years ago of seeking a settlement through bilateral dialogue, he said. |
| Philippine diplomats could not be immediately reached for comment. | Philippine diplomats could not be immediately reached for comment. |
| The talks had been suspended after China seized control of Scarborough Shoal, off the main Luzon island in the northern Philippines, and the Philippines launched the arbitration process under Duterte’s predecessor. The Philippines has in the past insisted that the ruling forms the basis for any negotiations with China, while Beijing has insisted on the opposite. | The talks had been suspended after China seized control of Scarborough Shoal, off the main Luzon island in the northern Philippines, and the Philippines launched the arbitration process under Duterte’s predecessor. The Philippines has in the past insisted that the ruling forms the basis for any negotiations with China, while Beijing has insisted on the opposite. |
| Duterte was greeted by Xi with full military honours at the Great Hall of the People, the seat of the ceremonial legislature in the heart of Beijing. The two leaders oversaw the signing of agreements between their governments. | Duterte was greeted by Xi with full military honours at the Great Hall of the People, the seat of the ceremonial legislature in the heart of Beijing. The two leaders oversaw the signing of agreements between their governments. |
| China has framed Duterte’s visit as a step towards ending years of estrangement between the countries. | China has framed Duterte’s visit as a step towards ending years of estrangement between the countries. |
| Duterte has walked a tightrope in trying to mend damaged relations with China while defending his country’s claims in the disputed South China Sea. | Duterte has walked a tightrope in trying to mend damaged relations with China while defending his country’s claims in the disputed South China Sea. |
| In Beijing, the Philippine leader, known for his devil-may-care, profanity-laden speeches, said on Wednesday that he would not raise the issue unless his Chinese counterpart first brought it up, out of “courtesy” to his host. | In Beijing, the Philippine leader, known for his devil-may-care, profanity-laden speeches, said on Wednesday that he would not raise the issue unless his Chinese counterpart first brought it up, out of “courtesy” to his host. |
| “As a matter of courtesy and in the Oriental way, you always wait,” Duterte said before a meeting with members of the Filipino business community in Beijing on Wednesday. “Because I am a visitor, I can’t destroy the goodwill by just blurting out something.” | “As a matter of courtesy and in the Oriental way, you always wait,” Duterte said before a meeting with members of the Filipino business community in Beijing on Wednesday. “Because I am a visitor, I can’t destroy the goodwill by just blurting out something.” |
| He also signalled a big shift away from reliance on the US, the Philippines’ long-standing defence treaty ally, telling the Filipino community members: “So it’s about time to say goodbye, my friend. Your stay in my country was for your own benefit.” |