Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian has called on the Philippines to "resist external interference" in addressing matters concerning the Indo-Pacific region as he said Beijing is always willing to work with Manila to ensure "good neighborliness."
Huang's pronouncement was made before top-level officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), including its AFP chief of staff Romeo Brawner Jr. and former AFP chief of staff Delfin Lorenzana, at the celebration of the 96th founding anniversary of the Chinese People's Liberation Army on Wednesday.
The Chinese envoy noted the "intricate and complex" international and regional situation, "with various risks and challenges emerging."
Photo courtesy of Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian
He said countries in the region "must keep abreast with the changing times" and "avoid Cold-War mentality and 'bloc' confrontation." He also called on them to "resist external interference and jointly safeguard the regional peace dividend." Huang did not say which external interference he was referring to, but China has always called out the US for meddling in the regional affairs of countries in the Indo-Pacific, particularly when it is related to the South China Sea. "China is willing to work with the Philippines to adhere to independence and good neighborliness, deepen practical cooperation in various fields, properly manage differences through consultation and dialogue, and ensure China-Philippines relations remain healthy and move steadily into the future, so as to write a new chapter of friendship and cooperation between the two countries," Huang said. Recently, China has continued its aggressive activities in the Indo-Pacific, specifically in the South China Sea, which other countries view as something threatening the peace and stability. In making the pronouncement, Huang said China has always adhered to the five principles of peaceful coexistence, upheld peaceful development and win-win cooperation in diplomacy and actively promoted the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
Photo courtesy of Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian
He said countries in the region "must keep abreast with the changing times" and "avoid Cold-War mentality and 'bloc' confrontation." He also called on them to "resist external interference and jointly safeguard the regional peace dividend." Huang did not say which external interference he was referring to, but China has always called out the US for meddling in the regional affairs of countries in the Indo-Pacific, particularly when it is related to the South China Sea. "China is willing to work with the Philippines to adhere to independence and good neighborliness, deepen practical cooperation in various fields, properly manage differences through consultation and dialogue, and ensure China-Philippines relations remain healthy and move steadily into the future, so as to write a new chapter of friendship and cooperation between the two countries," Huang said. Recently, China has continued its aggressive activities in the Indo-Pacific, specifically in the South China Sea, which other countries view as something threatening the peace and stability. In making the pronouncement, Huang said China has always adhered to the five principles of peaceful coexistence, upheld peaceful development and win-win cooperation in diplomacy and actively promoted the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.