Palace: PH relationship with China multifaceted

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines’ relationship with China is not limited to the current situation in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) dispute, Malacañang said on Monday.

Amid the flaring tensions between China and its Asian neighbors over the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea, Presidential spokesperson Secretary Edwin Lacierda said at a press briefing that the Philippines’ relationship with China “is not solely dependent” on the territorial row.

China claims almost the entire West Philippine Sea, including those within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. It has asserted its claim with reclamation activities and harassments in areas claimed by the Philippines.

The Palace, however, remained confident with the other facets of the Philippines’ ties with China. When asked if it still made sense to celebrate Filipino-Chinese friendship day amid the territorial row, Lacierda said, “yes.”

“Because our relationship with China is not solely dependent on our conflict with them in the South China Sea or the West Philippine Sea.  Again, our relationship with China is multifaceted, plus the fact that we have a number of Filipino-Chinese members in our country,” Lacierda said.

“We have always had very good relations with China in the other areas of exchange that we have: people-to-people, tourism, trade. And a number of us also have roots or have Chinese blood. So I think it should not be a concern for us because, again, we have a very rich relation with China which is not limited to the current situation in the West Philippine Sea,” he added.

This week, President Benigno Aquino III is set to grace the Filipino-Chinese’s community’s joint celebration of the Philippine Independence Day and the 13th Filipino-Chinese Friendship Day.

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