PH acting on China’s security concerns

DFA Assistant Secretary and spokesman Charles Jose. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday said it was coordinating with other government agencies to address the security concerns expressed by China, which had issued a travel advisory against the Philippines due to the spate of kidnappings and threats to its nationals here.

DFA spokesman Charles Jose said that aside from assuring China, “I think we should be able to show concrete steps, measures that we are taking to address their concerns.”

He said the DFA was working with other government agencies toward this end and expressed the hope that they would be able to “convince the Chinese government that we are dealing with the issue and, hopefully, we are able to lift the travel advisory at the soonest possible time.”

Jose said the Chinese travel advisory had impacted the Philippine economy, tourism and even investments.

China last week warned its nationals not to go to the Philippines after authorities foiled on Sept. 1 an alleged attempt to bomb the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 by a local group claiming to be angry over the “soft” position taken by the Philippine government against China in their territorial dispute in the South China Sea.