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MANILA – Chinese Defense Minister Wei Feng paid a courtesy visit to President Rodrigo Duterte’s Defense Minister on Friday.
Wei was accompanied by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana during the Chinese official’s visit to Malacañang.
The Palace has yet to issue a statement on the visit at press time.
In his meeting with Wei earlier in the day, Lorenzana said he reiterated the Philippines’ rights to the Western Philippine Sea upheld by an arbitration ruling that invalidated China’s broad claims four years ago.
Philippines won a arbitration case in 2016 by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, the Netherlands, which ruled that China’s extensive claims over almost the entire South China Sea had no legal basis.
Beijing continues to ignore the landmark ruling.
Lorenzana said he and Wei agreed that both countries should continue to use dialogue and consultation to handle disputes.
Wei Fenghe, China, Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, South China Sea, West Philippine Sea, South China Sea Arbitration Ruling, Permanent Court of Arbitration, Philippines-China Relations, Foreign Policy, Duterte Pivots on China, Chinese Defense Minister Wei Feng
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