Manila, Philippines – Senate Foreign Relations Chair Erwin Tulfo, along with Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, met with Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan.
The dialogue was said to be centered on maintaining open communication between the Philippines and China through diplomatic channels.
The dialogue took place amid ongoing heated exchanges between lawmakers, government officials and the Chinese embassy in Manila.
Tulfo had earlier stated that he was willing to meet with the Chinese envoy to ‘tone down’ the ‘word war’ between the Senate and the embassy.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reportedly arranged the said meeting.
The DFA has not yet made a statement on this, but the department has previously noted that it is necessary to continue adhering to diplomatic channels to resolve the differences between the Philippines and China.
LACSON ON TALKS WITH CHINESE ENVOY: DOES NOT INCLUDES SURRENDERING PH TERRITORY
Meanwhile, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson also expressed the prospective dialogue with the embassy, but the senator insisted that it is not to surrender Philippine territory, but to reduce tension amid the exchanges of heated statements on social media between the embassy and the senators.
The Senate is set to issue the parameters in relation to the debate on the issue of the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea.
This is rooted on the alleged invitation to a meeting made by Chinese envoy.
Among the parameters will be communication to avoid conflict between the Philippines and China.—Alvin Pelobello, Eurotv News