Rising China a ‘work in progress’—Aquino

President Benigno Aquino speaks at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit Friday in Honolulu (Saturday in Manila). AP

HONOLULU—China is a “work in progress” whose government model and attitude overseas are evolving, President Benigno Aquino said Friday, urging “long patience” with the rising giant.

China-Philippine tensions have increased recently as the Asian superpower has sought to assert territorial and maritime claims in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) that overlap with Manila’s and those of other countries in the region.

“Sometimes there are instances of tensions and there are conflicts,” said Aquino, speaking in Honolulu ahead of a weekend summit of Pacific Rim leaders here that will include US President Barack Obama and China’s Hu Jintao.

“We recognize that they (China) are a system that is relatively young in its transformative phase. They are still defining exactly the entire model of their state and how they govern their people,” he said.

“If one looks at them as a work in progress and exercises long patience and seeks out those who are of like mind on the opposite side, then the idea of enhanced cooperation and mutual growth can be further assured.”

The West Philippine Sea’s resource-rich waters and strategic island groups are claimed in whole or in part by China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei.

The Philippines has accused the Chinese military of aggressive acts in Philippine-claimed areas, including firing on Filipino fishermen, laying buoys and harassing an oil exploration vessel.

Vietnam also has made similar allegations.

Amid the tensions, Aquino has been trying to get Southeast Asian neighbors to form a united front against China’s sovereignty claim on the entire West Philippine Sea.

The Philippines has called for settling the disputes through international law and the creation of a “zone of peace” in the West Philippine Sea.

China, however, has insisted its claims are legitimate and that any discussions on the issue be on a bilateral basis, which analysts say reflects a fear on Beijing’s part of any such united front over the issue.