Marcos seeks 'reset' in PH-China ties amid Ayungin Shoal tension

MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos has expressed hope that the Philippines and China would “reset” their relationship amid renewed tensions in Ayungin Shoal, Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro said Thursday. Castro said this following the meeting of Marcos and Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan on Tuesday over concerns of “national security.” The chief executive summoned the ambassador after personnel from the Philippine Navy were injured in an encounter with the Chinese Coast Guard in Ayungin Shoal. “Nag-usap sila at ang nais na mangyari dito ng Pangulo ay hindi na maulit ang mga pangyayari at ma-reset sana ang relasyon ng China at ng Pilipinas sa mas magandang pakikipag-ugnayan,” Castro said at a Palace briefing. “Kung anumang isyu mayroon ang China at ang Pilipinas, gusto niya magkaroon ng reset sa pag-uusap na ‘yun,” she added. The Palace official said that the Chinese ambassador seemed to have acknowledged the remarks of Marcos, but she refused to give further details about the conversation between the two, citing confidentiality. “Hindi ko po maibibigay ang detalye dahil may usapan po na hindi na magbibigay ng detalye anuman. Pero mukhang tinatanggap naman din po at naging maganda naman po ang kanila pag-uusap,” she said. Pressed if there was any categorical commitment from Jing that the incident would not happen again, Castro said, “Nagkaroon po sila ng exchanges of views at mga suggestions.” “Pero kung anuman po ‘yung napag-usapan nila in detail ay hindi ko po maibabanggit sa inyo,” she added. Castro also noted that the meeting between Marcos and Jing lasted for an hour and 20 minutes. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) earlier accused the China Coast Guard of clubbing a Filipino sailor with a baton as they approached a grounded vessel that has long served as a Philippine garrison in the West Philippine Sea. The AFP said it exercised professionalism and acted according to laws, and called on the People's Liberation Army and China Coast Guard to stop their "illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive actions" in the maritime area. Marcos also condemned the incident.