China’s defense minister to pay Aquino a courtesy call at Palace

MANILA, Philippines – President Aquino is to meet on Monday with the visiting Chinese defense minister, Gen. Liang Guanglie, in Malacañang.

Liang will pay a courtesy call to President Aquino at around 3 p.m. on Monday, according to Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang.

Asked whether President Aquino will raise the country’s concern over recent Chinese intrusion in Reed Bank, Carandang said the issue might be raised sometime during Guanglie’s visit to the country but Carandang said he did not know if the issue would be discussed during the courtesy call.

“I would be surprised if it were not raised at some point of his visit. But I wouldn’t know whether this will be raised at his courtesy call to the President or to his counterparts,” Carandang said.

The five-day visit of Liang, who will depart on May 25, came as tension between Manila and Beijing heightened over the recent incidents in Reed Bank involving Chinese boats, which shadowed a Philippine government exploration ship.

The Philippines is claiming Reed Bank, located off Palawan waters, as part of its territory. The bank is also claimed by China as part of the disputed Spratly chain of islands being claimed by several countries, including both Manila and Beijing.

The tension heightened even more following the sighting of two foreign fighters near Reed Bank last week, which were believed to belong to China.