Xi Jinping to visit Philippines after APEC

MANILA, Philippines — Chinese President Xi Jinping will undertake his first official visit to the Philippines under the Duterte administration possibly after he attends the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Papua New Guinea this November, presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said yesterday.

Roque said the Department of Foreign Affairs is working on the details of Xi’s visit, a move that will come on the heels of negotiations for the joint exploration in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) with China.

The Palace assured the public that President Duterte has not abandoned the arbitral ruling that asserted the Philippines’ exclusive sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea and rendered as invalid Beijing “nine-dash line” claim.

“The President has repeatedly said he’s open to joint exploration,” Roque said, after telling Malacañang-based reporters that Cayetano reported to the President on the recent developments about the West Philippine Sea during the joint command conference with the police and the military the other day.

Roque invoked the Supreme Court rulings on the La Bugal case as basis for the legality of the proposed joint exploration with Beijing. He also stressed that the administration will always protect national interest even during the joint exploration with Beijing.

“Number one, because the Supreme Court said it’s constitutional in La Bugal; and number two, because it is pursuant to the national interest. But he will not give up even an inch of Philippine territory. So that’s the position,” he said.

“So, there was a restatement of policy. It’s not really a new policy, (Foreign Affairs) Secretary (Alan Peter) Cayetano explained to the men in uniform what the current policy is,” Roque said.

Asked about the response of the military which has been vigorous in defending Philippine territory from potential intruders, Roque said the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Department of National Defense were able to grasp the idea.

“Eh, lahat naman po (Everyone is) supportive. Basta malinaw po na wala tayong pinamimigay na teritoryo (As long as it is clear that we are not giving away territory),” Roque said.

“We are working with the realities of modern day life. We are working with the realities of geopolitics. But we are promoting the national interest first and foremost,” he added.

Roque said the President has a long-standing invitation to Xi to visit the Philippines.

“So, (Xi) was looking forward to visiting the Philippines. And I remember in China, the President even invited him not just to come to the Philippines, but to come to his house and have dinner in his house in Davao,” Roque said.