Thread: Philippines Prepares for Visit by Chinese Leader

Philippine officials on Monday were preparing a red carpet welcome for Chinese leader Xi Jinping, saying the country wanted to take the bilateral relationship to a higher level of cooperation, despite a territorial dispute in the South China Sea.


Xi is to arrive on Tuesday for a 24-hour state visit during which he is expected to hold an expanded meeting with Filipino leader Rodrigo Duterte. Last week, President Duterte told his ASEAN counterparts that Beijing had no intention of causing trouble in the region despite overlapping claims to the resource-rich sea.


“The president and the entire Filipino nation look forward to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s forthcoming visit to the Philippines,” said Salvador Panelo, Duterte’s spokesman, adding that it marked a turning point in relations between the two nations.


Both leaders were to have an “extended bilateral meeting” on Tuesday afternoon, sources said. They said the leaders could reach an agreement on a proposed sharing deal with China that would give the Philippines a 60 percent-40 percent split on resources recovered from the Reed Bank.


The Reed Bank lies within Manila’s exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea and is believed to lie atop vast untapped natural resources. Analysts have said that joint exploration in the area would go against the Philippine constitution.


Xi’s visit here “marks an opportunity to further strengthen and sustain our bilateral relations,” Panelo said.


“We laud President Xi for China’s continued efforts to promote peace and stability in our region, through dialogues and consultations in handling the South China Sea issue, as we share his aspiration to bring our nations’ relationship to a higher level of collaboration,” he added.


On Wednesday, before Xi departs, he is expected to meet with leaders of the Philippine Congress as well as the local Chinese community.


Panelo stressed that “amity solves international disputes” and forges a stronger alliance between the two countries cooperating to combat other problems such as terrorism, extremism and criminality.


“The Philippines’ and China’s shared hopes for their citizens continue to pave the way for closer bonds between the two nations,” Panelo said.


He said Duterte’s “cautious, pragmatic and diplomatic yet independent foreign policy” could lead to more areas of cooperation between both nations.


Xi’s trip would be the first state visit to the Philippines and the first of its kind by a Chinese leader since 2005. It is to reciprocate Duterte’s state visit to China shortly after he became president two years ago.


China, according to Panelo, is considered a top trading partner of the Philippines and one of the country’s largest sources of tourist dollars.



South China Sea disputes


At an annual meeting of Southeast Asian leaders in Singapore last week, Duterte said relations between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) were excellent, but noted there was friction between Beijing and Washington.


He said ASEAN and China should work swiftly toward a code of conduct to govern actions in the disputed South China Sea region or risk a miscalculation that could lead to confrontations.


Duterte has also said China was already in possession of the disputed waters and wanted Beijing to set a route for claimant states to take to avoid confrontations.


“So you are there, you are in possession, you occupy it, tell us what route shall we take and what kind of behavior,” Duterte had said.


Xi’s visit is expected to be met with a huge protest by fishermen who have faced harassment in the South China Sea, and nationalist groups that have accused Duterte of selling out the country to China.


The present government has “squandered the most solid legal ground it has against China in the South China Sea conflict,” said Sen. Leila de Lima, a Duterte critic.


She blamed the president for wasting a legal victory in 2016 when the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of Manila over what she termed as China’s “outrageous incursions.”


“This is Duterte’s most inexcusable act on the West Philippine Sea dispute, more inexcusable than sleeping on the job,” De Lima said, using the Philippine name for the South China Sea.


https://www.benarnews.org/english/ne...018125250.html

Duterte is rubbing his grubby little hands in glee.

We went out for a walk tonight. The Shangra-la Hotel where he's staying is only 200 meters from my condo.
The traffic is chaos. All the roads are blocked off around the hotel.
I've never seen so many policemen ever before. Every 2 meters stands a policemen on both sides of the road.
we also saw 2 groups of riot squads, each with about 30 men with shields, helmets and batons.

If the shit hits the fan get out and take some pics.

Originally Posted by TizMe

I've never seen so many policemen ever before. Every 2 meters stands a policemen on both sides of the road.
we also saw 2 groups of riot squads, each with about 30 men with shields, helmets and batons.

Ever seen when a Thai big guy visiting any place?

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Duterte is rubbing his grubby little hands in glee.

And bending over with his pants down.

NO SENSE OF NATIONAL PRIDE! "THe honour guard is ONLY carrying the flag of China. The presidential standard is missing. Duterte is walking behind Xi Jinping. The message is clear. Duterte is subservient to Xi. The Philippines is China’s lapdog. Truly, we are China’s southernmost province. Why should we wonder that the government is not following protocol when the same government has no problem giving away our territories to China "

Originally Posted by Sinamaky

Thought the only Hand Rubber was the NZ property tycoon Maanaam?

Greened you by mistake...I'll make up for, don't worry. WTF are you on about and whereTF have you emerged from?
Looks like a multi of a multi; sounds like Numb Prick...and acts like him too.

My only comment is... No comment... Sigh....

Originally Posted by katie23

My only comment is... No comment... Sigh....

Don't be shy. Out with it Katie. I would like to hear the opinion of a filipina.

It's fucked traffic up as far South as Alabang....26 Km from Manila.

Obama was last US pres to visit PI I believe. Same traffic situation when he was there?

^Yep. Any major visit causes ripple chaos, especially as they inevitably 'practice' for a day or two in advance. I give Metro Manila a wide berth....don't think I've been North of Alabang in a couple of years.

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

Alabang

Was unfamiliar with Alabang so googled it. Looks like it has anything you would need so no need to Metro Manila.

^Main Citibank Office, US Embassy, and daughter's doctor. Wife handles bank and doctor as required, I occasionally (every few years) have to make the trek to the Embassy to renew one passport or another. Citibank used to have a branch office in Alabang but, for unknown reasons as it was always busy, closed it a few years ago.

Originally Posted by Norton

Obama was last US pres to visit PI I believe. Same traffic situation when he was there?

Obama was here during APEC I think. We got 2 days public holidays, and government employees got the entire week off to reduce the traffic chaos.

He must be gone now.
I just looked out the window and all the barricades are gone and traffic has returned to the usual chaos.

^Wheels up at 1:30 PM.

I just pity anybody else that needed to get a flight.
I saw photos yesterday of people getting out cars and hot-footing it to the terminal to try to catch their flights.

Its why I'm always at the airport about 4 hours before my flight. Just arrive early, sit and wait is better than a last minute panic due to unforeseen circumstances.

Originally Posted by TizMe

I just pity anybody else that needed to get a flight.
I saw photos yesterday of people getting out cars and hot-footing it to the terminal to try to catch their flights.

Its why I'm always at the airport about 4 hours before my flight. Just arrive early, sit and wait is better than a last minute panic due to unforeseen circumstances.

Unforeseen?

Flag protocol breach

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2...ilippine-visit

@Norton - Alabang was agricultural land way back in 60s-70s, according to my dad. Now it's part of a busy metropolis - the southernmost part of Metro Manila. It's my go-to place when I want larger malls and/or change of scene. Like Davis, I live in the South.

And yeah, traffic is always terrible in Metro Manila. One time, I walked down the skyway ramp (was ~300 m away from exit). Many ppl were walking down as well. I had work that day so couldn't leave early, then had an evening flight to catch - worried that I would miss my flight. I made it to the airport with 1 hour to spare - but ran to the departure gates. It was Friday - terrible (3x) traffic. Made me say to myself - never again schedule a flight out on a Friday night.

Am now in a bus, stuck in traffic somewhere in Manila. Got some errands to do with gov't offices. Will prolly stop by Alabang on the way home for window shopping. Heh.

I spent a lot of time in the PI in the 60s but seldom got to Manila and when I did was on an old clunky victory bus. Back then, traffic was not an issue but like everywhere in SEA it sure is now. Sounds like Manila may have worse traffic than Bangkok. Something I can hardly believe.

^Having lived in both Manila and Bangkok, I think it's a traffic draw - both horrible. Metro Manila anywhere near rush hour, which, like Bangkok, is most of the day, is just a gridlock. Wife is about to head for the airport...allowing two hours for the one hour drive.

I vividly recall one Friday rainy night in rush hour on Edsa Blvd., always a living hell. I was still working, and living in Manila; on my way to a business dinner as I recall. Total gridlock; hadn't moved an inch in the last 20 minutes. Listening to the oldies channel on the radio when the announcer breaks in. "Good evening commuters. This is Jhun with your traffic update". Simply put, IT SUCKS!". "Have a pleasant drive. I QUIT!" I think every horn for miles started blaring.