Marcos to Chinese envoy: It's unfortunate we didn't make much more progress in SCS
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. receives Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian for a farewell call at the Malacañan Palace on Sept. 25, 2025. (Photo courtesy of PPA)
President Marcos has bid farewell to Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian, expressing regret that little progress had been made on South China Sea during his tenure.
Marcos, however, said that despite that they were able to manage to keep things away from too much problem.
The President made the statement during the Chinese envoy's farewell call at the Malacañan Palace on Thursday morning, Sept. 25.
"We will miss you. I think you have made a very good second home already here in Manila," Marcos told Huang.
"It's unfortunate we didn't make much progress on the difficulties we have in the South China Sea and the West Philippine Sea. But I think considering how difficult the situation was, that we have managed to keep things at least away from too much problem," Marcos said.
Marcos also thanked Huang for his service.
During Huang's time in the country, the Philippines and China have been confronted with numerous incidents in the West Philippine Sea, which always led to diplomatic protests and having the ambassador be summoned by the government.
Last week, the Chinese ambassador announced that he was ending his tour of duty in the country while expressing “conviction” that the relationship between China and the Philippines—despite the tensions—will “come back on the right track.”