South China Sea tensions downplayed as Manila warmly farewells Beijing envoy
Exchange resurrects diplomatic language that stresses maritime issues are ‘not the sum total’ of bilateral relations
“Let us not allow these differences to define our relationship,” Marcos said, adding that the two countries should continue to encourage the deepening of trade, people-to-people interactions and cultural exchanges.
The Chinese embassy said Huang had agreed with Marcos that the relationship between the two countries should not be defined by the South China Sea disputes.
“It is hoped that the Philippine side will work with China in the same direction to put China-Philippines relations back on track at an early date,” the outgoing ambassador said, according to an embassy statement issued after the meeting.
The remarks resurrected language used in January 2023 when Marcos visited China. The joint statement agreed by Beijing and Manila at the time emphasised that “maritime issues do not comprise the sum total of relations between the two countries”.