PH defense chief, Chinese envoy meet amid SCS 'harassment' report
Beijing's top diplomat in Manila on Thursday met with Department of Defense (DND) Secretary Gibo Teodoro in a visit that came shortly after another incident of harassment of Philippine personnel in the South China Sea.
Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian sat down with newly-appointed Teodoro for talks tackling defense ties of both countries.
Xuang posted a photo of him with the Defense secretary, with whom he said he "had the pleasure" meeting.
Photo courtesy of Chinese Ambassador to PH Huang Xilian
"We had a constructive discussion on promoting defense and military relations between China and the Philippines, and maintaining peace and stability in the region," Huang said. The envoy's visit to Teodoro at the DND headquarters followed China's reported harassment of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel in the South China Sea. On Wednesday, PCG deplored China's the Chinese Coast Guard's "aggressive actions" in the waters on June 30. "During the operation, the PCG was constantly followed, harassed, and obstructed by the significantly larger Chinese Coast Guard vessels at a distance of approximately 100 yards," PCG said. "These CCGVs blatantly disregard the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs) in their attempts to obstruct passage and discourage the PCG vessels from approaching Ayungin Shoal," it added.
Photo courtesy of Chinese Ambassador to PH Huang Xilian
"We had a constructive discussion on promoting defense and military relations between China and the Philippines, and maintaining peace and stability in the region," Huang said. The envoy's visit to Teodoro at the DND headquarters followed China's reported harassment of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel in the South China Sea. On Wednesday, PCG deplored China's the Chinese Coast Guard's "aggressive actions" in the waters on June 30. "During the operation, the PCG was constantly followed, harassed, and obstructed by the significantly larger Chinese Coast Guard vessels at a distance of approximately 100 yards," PCG said. "These CCGVs blatantly disregard the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs) in their attempts to obstruct passage and discourage the PCG vessels from approaching Ayungin Shoal," it added.