AFP chief and Chinese envoy tackle sustaining peace, stability in the region

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff General Andres Centino and Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian meet at the AFP General Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. | PHOTO COURTESY: Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian

MANILA, Philippines — Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff General Andres Centino and Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian tackled peace and stability in the region.

Huang on Wednesday night said that he paid a courtesy visit on Centino at the AFP General Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

According to Huang, they had a “cordial and constructive meeting.”

“We discussed matters pertaining to [military] to [military] exchange and cooperation as well as sustaining peace and stability in the region,” said Huang in a Facebook post.

https://www.facebook.com/AmbHuangXilian/posts/pfbid02EsKmB9ao4wfiRK4o6RsiTFdxhudYwwMKxPxkNZk7VYpHrZMkdf5uMww1NUjFazSVl

The two officials’ meeting came after China harassed a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel in Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea on February 6.

PCG crew members suffered temporary blindness after the Chinese Coast Guard directed a “military-grade” laser to the vessel.

China, however, argued that the PCG vessel was in their territory, the Ren’ai Reef.

The Philippines has filed a diplomatic protest over the incident.

JMS