DFA chief: South China Sea row not sole aspect of PH-China ties

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo stated that disagreements with China over the South China Sea do not define the entirety of their bilateral relationship.

Manalo emphasized that these differences should not hinder efforts to find effective management strategies, particularly concerning the rights of Filipino citizens, especially fishermen.

The Philippines has previously lodged diplomatic protests against the presence of Chinese fishing vessels and what it terms as "aggressive actions" by China in the strategic South China Sea.

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang expressed China's readiness to collaborate with the Philippines in implementing prior agreements and addressing their differences constructively.

China asserts sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, a vital trade route and a region believed to hold significant natural resources.

A 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration invalidated China's expansive claims, though Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, and the Philippines also have competing claims in the area.