President of the Philippines Benigno Aquino III has made clear recently that he will visit China within this year. He added that barring unforeseen circumstances, the visit will take place this year. He further said that to him, engaging talks with all parties especially with China, are important. He also said that the Philippines and China would focus discussion on resolving the sovereignty dispute in this (South China Sea) water which is of strategic importance.
News about President Aquino's intention to visit to China was heard much earlier. At one time, it was even speculated that his visit to China would be in May. But May has already passed and the President's visit to China did not materialize. Last week, the Philippine Foreign Minister Albert del Rosario also told outsiders that President Aquino will visit China either at the end of August or in early September. Nevertheless, this is the first time President Aquino made clear to the press that he will visit China this year. Since this news was confirmed by Aquino personally, the prospect of President Aquino's expected visit to China is settled. Foreign Minister Albert del Rosario has also traveled to China recently. We trust that probably the mission of the Philippine Foreign Minister Albert del Rosario's visit to China is to pave the way clear for President Aquino's visit to China later on.
Resolving Sovereignty Dispute
When President Aquino accepted the media interview, he did talk about the mission of his China visit. He said that he would focus his visit on resolving the sovereignty dispute in the South China Sea. He hoped that the Philippines and China could reach an agreement over the sovereignty dispute because people's lives are at stake and he could not ignore this problem. What President Aquino said at the press interview has set the tone of his forthcoming visit to China.
During the past 36 years after the Philippines and China established diplomatic relations with each other, almost all the previous President of the Philippines had paid visited to China and some had even visited China a few times. President Aquino's mother, the late Philippine President Corazon C. Aquino also paid official visit to China in April 1988. During her visit, the late President Corzon A. Aquino even made a special trip to her ancestral home to visit her relatives in Hongjian village, Longhai County, Zhangzhou City of Fujian Province. Her visit to the Chinese village left a good topic of discussion for bridging the Philippines-China bilateral ties. In reciprocation, Chinese national leaders also returned official visits to the Philippines. These official visits by China's national leaders have included today's big three political giants- President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and NPC (National People's Congress) Chairman Wu Bangguo.
It is a good development that President Aquino has the desire to visit China. To the Philippines and China as well as to the people of the two countries, this can consider as a major event. The people for both countries will be happy to see President Aquino's plan to visit China sailing through smoothly. This is because the people from both countries do understand that high-level government officials' mutual visits to each other's country is an important agenda in building up good bilateral relationship. Through such high-level government official visits, the relationship between the two can achieve a higher level of friendly diplomatic relations and can become everlasting friendly neighbor.
Bilateral Consultation
Generally speaking, before nations engage in high-level government official visit, the two nations will usually try their best to create a friendly and harmonious atmosphere. Such atmosphere will be conducive to attain a successful visit that follows. This is a normal diplomatic protocol. Yet what we observe from the recent happening in this country is that the relationship between the Philippines and China has been an unpleasant one due to the territorial dispute between the two countries in the South China Sea. Recently, the Manila side has even considered Li Yongsheng, the political counselor of the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines as a character that the Philippine Government will not want to deal with.
The reason was that during the last round of bilateral consultation held between the Philippine and Chinese Government officials to discuss the issues pertaining to the South China Sea conflict, Li Yongsheng has raised his voice. Under such a backdrop and atmosphere, we should ask ourselves if it is the best time for President Aquino to visit China now? Can we expect President Aquino's forthcoming visit to China to achieve some kind of a constructive agreement between the two nations?
Establishment of Diplomatic Ties
The Philippines and China have long standing diplomatic history. The people from both nations have long maintained a friendly relationship. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the people from both countries have made good effort to cultivate and nurture the good friendship between them. They cherish the hope that their respective high-level national leaders will visit each other's country frequently in a manner similar to how relatives will visit each other's home. However, under the current circumstances, especially when the Philippines and China have just gone through a round of territorial dispute recently, a strange atmosphere has emerged between the two countries. This does not seem to be the best time for President Aquino to pay official visit to China.
South China Sea Conflict
We believe that if President Aquino really feels that his visit to China is very important and it is a trip that cannot do without, then he must make good preparation for such a visit. For example, he should put aside the territorial and maritime dispute in the South China Sea. He must avoid coming out with words or statements that can hurt the feelings of the people from both the nations. He must not engage in things detrimental to tarnish the bilateral ties between the two countries. He must work hard to create a friendly atmosphere that can make his official visit to China a successful one.
Conversely, if the Philippines continues to quarrel with China over the South China Sea conflict, then even if President Aquino visits China as planned, such a visit will not help to resolve the conflict between the two countries. Such a visit will not benefit the diplomatic ties between the two countries. In the final analysis, even if President Aquino proceeds to visit China, such a visit cannot achieve the goal of his visit very much. Such a visit will not bring any benefit to the diplomatic relationship between the two countries. It is better for him not to go than go to China!
News about President Aquino's intention to visit to China was heard much earlier. At one time, it was even speculated that his visit to China would be in May. But May has already passed and the President's visit to China did not materialize. Last week, the Philippine Foreign Minister Albert del Rosario also told outsiders that President Aquino will visit China either at the end of August or in early September. Nevertheless, this is the first time President Aquino made clear to the press that he will visit China this year. Since this news was confirmed by Aquino personally, the prospect of President Aquino's expected visit to China is settled. Foreign Minister Albert del Rosario has also traveled to China recently. We trust that probably the mission of the Philippine Foreign Minister Albert del Rosario's visit to China is to pave the way clear for President Aquino's visit to China later on.
Resolving Sovereignty Dispute
When President Aquino accepted the media interview, he did talk about the mission of his China visit. He said that he would focus his visit on resolving the sovereignty dispute in the South China Sea. He hoped that the Philippines and China could reach an agreement over the sovereignty dispute because people's lives are at stake and he could not ignore this problem. What President Aquino said at the press interview has set the tone of his forthcoming visit to China.
During the past 36 years after the Philippines and China established diplomatic relations with each other, almost all the previous President of the Philippines had paid visited to China and some had even visited China a few times. President Aquino's mother, the late Philippine President Corazon C. Aquino also paid official visit to China in April 1988. During her visit, the late President Corzon A. Aquino even made a special trip to her ancestral home to visit her relatives in Hongjian village, Longhai County, Zhangzhou City of Fujian Province. Her visit to the Chinese village left a good topic of discussion for bridging the Philippines-China bilateral ties. In reciprocation, Chinese national leaders also returned official visits to the Philippines. These official visits by China's national leaders have included today's big three political giants- President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and NPC (National People's Congress) Chairman Wu Bangguo.
It is a good development that President Aquino has the desire to visit China. To the Philippines and China as well as to the people of the two countries, this can consider as a major event. The people for both countries will be happy to see President Aquino's plan to visit China sailing through smoothly. This is because the people from both countries do understand that high-level government officials' mutual visits to each other's country is an important agenda in building up good bilateral relationship. Through such high-level government official visits, the relationship between the two can achieve a higher level of friendly diplomatic relations and can become everlasting friendly neighbor.
Bilateral Consultation
Generally speaking, before nations engage in high-level government official visit, the two nations will usually try their best to create a friendly and harmonious atmosphere. Such atmosphere will be conducive to attain a successful visit that follows. This is a normal diplomatic protocol. Yet what we observe from the recent happening in this country is that the relationship between the Philippines and China has been an unpleasant one due to the territorial dispute between the two countries in the South China Sea. Recently, the Manila side has even considered Li Yongsheng, the political counselor of the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines as a character that the Philippine Government will not want to deal with.
The reason was that during the last round of bilateral consultation held between the Philippine and Chinese Government officials to discuss the issues pertaining to the South China Sea conflict, Li Yongsheng has raised his voice. Under such a backdrop and atmosphere, we should ask ourselves if it is the best time for President Aquino to visit China now? Can we expect President Aquino's forthcoming visit to China to achieve some kind of a constructive agreement between the two nations?
Establishment of Diplomatic Ties
The Philippines and China have long standing diplomatic history. The people from both nations have long maintained a friendly relationship. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the people from both countries have made good effort to cultivate and nurture the good friendship between them. They cherish the hope that their respective high-level national leaders will visit each other's country frequently in a manner similar to how relatives will visit each other's home. However, under the current circumstances, especially when the Philippines and China have just gone through a round of territorial dispute recently, a strange atmosphere has emerged between the two countries. This does not seem to be the best time for President Aquino to pay official visit to China.
South China Sea Conflict
We believe that if President Aquino really feels that his visit to China is very important and it is a trip that cannot do without, then he must make good preparation for such a visit. For example, he should put aside the territorial and maritime dispute in the South China Sea. He must avoid coming out with words or statements that can hurt the feelings of the people from both the nations. He must not engage in things detrimental to tarnish the bilateral ties between the two countries. He must work hard to create a friendly atmosphere that can make his official visit to China a successful one.
Conversely, if the Philippines continues to quarrel with China over the South China Sea conflict, then even if President Aquino visits China as planned, such a visit will not help to resolve the conflict between the two countries. Such a visit will not benefit the diplomatic ties between the two countries. In the final analysis, even if President Aquino proceeds to visit China, such a visit cannot achieve the goal of his visit very much. Such a visit will not bring any benefit to the diplomatic relationship between the two countries. It is better for him not to go than go to China!
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