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Gordon reveals: 'Top PH and Chinese diplomats met on West Philippine Sea issue'

Philippines | National

Gordon reveals: 'Top PH and Chinese diplomats met on West Philippine Sea issue'

By Mario Casayuran

Senator Richard J. Gordon on Monday revealed that high ranking Philippine and Chinese diplomatic officials met last Friday regarding the contentious West Philippine Sea (WPS) territorial dispute.

‘’I am cautiously optimistic that the bilateral meeting would result in the stopping of the unwelcome activities in the WPS by the Chinese naval assets,’’ Gordon said as Chinese militia assets just move in and around many reefs in the WPS despite a series of Philippine diplomatic protests.

‘’We are a friendly people but we don’t want to be threatened especially our hardworking fisherfolk,’’ Gordon said.

Senators have chided Chinese ‘’landgrabbing’’ activities in the WPS despite a United Nations arbitration court favoring a Philippine WPS territorial claim and rejecting China’s ‘’historical’’ claim.

Former Senator Rodolfo Biazon, a former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff, urged senators to press President Duterte to call a National Security Council (NSC) and discuss the WPS issue.

On reports that Philippine military officials favor the purchase of submarines, Senator Aquilino Pimentel III said helicopters have more practical uses that submarines.

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