China’s Xi calls for ‘friendly’ talks

Chinese President Xi Jinping has revived calls for “friendly consultation and negotiation” as the Philippines awaits the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration questioning the validity of China’s claimed territorial waters of the South China Sea.

China is eyeing the establishment of another outpost in Scarborough Shoal, off the coast of Zambales province, but the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it has the area covered as it is constantly monitoring activities and movements there.

“For some time, developments in the South China Sea have attracted extensive attention,” said President Xi in his address to the 5th Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) Foreign Ministers Meeting held in Beijing recently.

He said China is committed to maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea, according to a DFA statement.