Singapore leader commends Noy, Xi meeting

MANILA, Philippines - Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong commended President Aquino on his recent meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping, saying that China’s willingness to communicate with the Philippines on the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) would be a good start for the two countries to settle their differences.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda told reporters the topic was among those raised by Lee following “The World in 2015” gala dinner at the Four Seasons Hotel in Singapore Tuesday evening.

Asked if there was any change in the Chinese approach in dealing with the West Philippine Sea issue, Aquino said he hoped there would be.

“The mere fact that we’re talking again is already a substantial change. Previously, there was a lot of rhetoric that stated one position to the exclusion of the other,” he said.

“Now that we are talking, that hopefully signifies that we could really arrive at a compromise and a just solution to the issue,” the President said,

He also told the event participants that the Philippines had been pursuing two tracks – crafting a binding code of conduct and arbitration.

“All of the parties have reiterated their desire to come up with this code of conduct at the soonest possible time. But soonest in their diplomatic sphere is not exactly soonest in a corporate world,” he said.

The Philippines has filed a memorial at the international tribunal to boost its claim in the West Philippine Sea. China, which has until December to respond, has rejected the move to elevate the issue to the international tribunal.

Aside from China and the Philippines, other countries laying claim to the territory, in whole or in part, include Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

Aquino and Lee, meanwhile, met during a courtesy call made by the President at the Istana main building shortly after arriving in Singapore for a two-day working visit.

Lacierda said Aquino showed Lee a note bearing Xi’s statement written in Chinese language, which the Singaporean leader read and took positively.

“The first remark (of Prime Minister Lee) after reading the statement was: ‘This is quite a generous discussion,’” Lacierda told reporters in a press briefing.

He added the Singaporean leader hoped for a “just and amicable outcome” in the dispute between China and the Philippines.

Lee, who was also present in the APEC summits, welcomed the development, echoing Aquino’s belief that the Philippines’ overall relationship with China should not revolve entirely around their territorial conflict.

“Our relationship with China is multifaceted. It’s not focused on the dispute in the South China Sea. We have other relations with China. For instance, trade, people-to-people, tourism... So, in that respect, we’re in agreement that (our) relationship with China is not focused on the dispute,” Lacierda said.

Aquino discussed with Lee the Philippines’ arbitration case filed before the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea and the Singaporean leader was supportive of the general idea behind such move, he added.

“In Lee’s view, China does not want to go to war. China would like to have peace with its southern neighbors. And the President’s answer is that ‘we also don’t have any intention. My interest here is how to improve the lot of the Filipinos,’” Lacierda said.

“If there are no tensions in the South China Sea, we can concentrate on making our country more prosperous, more economically viable with respect to trade relations with China and other members of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), of APEC, and other regional trade groups.”

Lacierda said Lee welcomed the fact that talks with regard to the code of conduct were now moving and that China was currently reviewing it.