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Reuters

China said on Friday it was in touch with the Philippines about the possible visit of a Chinese naval ship to the country.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Thursday he had invited China to send a battleship to visit.
China denies work planned for monitoring station in South China Sea shoal
Duterte’s invitation was announced soon after Chinese Foreign Ministry on Thursday dis­missed a report about the country’s plan to build an environmental monitoring station in disputed waters near Scarborough shoal in the South China Sea.
His overtures towards a country long regarded by Manila as a maritime aggressor have marked an astonishing foreign policy shake-up, and Duterte made a landmark visit to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping last year.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said military exchanges between the two countries were an important part of their relations.
“Following the improvement in bilateral relations, China is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the Philippines in the relevant area,” Hua told a daily news briefing, when asked if the Chinese navy would visit.
“As for a Chinese naval ship visiting the Philippines, according to what I understand the relevant sides in both countries are currently in communication about this,” she added, without elaborating.
Philippines to protest China’s plan to build on disputed shoal
Duterte’s comments came amid concern in the Philippines that China would build several environmental monitoring stations in disputed waters, including on the Scarborough Shoal 200km off the Philippine coast.
News of the report threatened to dampen ties between Beijing and Manila after Philippines cabinet claimed it was planning to file a strong protest against China over the station project.
But Chinese Foreign Ministry on Thursday dismissed the report as untrue.


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South China Sea

China says it is ‘in touch with Philippines’ about naval visit

A Chinese H-6K bomber on patrol over islands and reefs including Scarborough Shoal, which it calls Huangyan Dao. Photo: Xinhua

FILE - In this Sept. 23, 2015, file photo, Chinese Coast Guard members approach Filipino fishermen as they confront each other off Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, also called the West Philippine Sea. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who has considerably reduced tensions with China over contested South China Sea waters, says he plans to declare a marine sanctuary at the disputed Scarborough Shoal. Such a move would keep away both Filipino and Chinese fishermen and prevent China from constructing any facilities, like it did on seven other features farther south in the Spratly archipelago. (AP Photo/Renato Etac, File)

News

China

President Rodrigo Duterte said he invited China to send warship to visit after Chinese Foreign Ministry dis­missed report about plan to build station an in disputed waters


New | China says it is ‘in touch with Philippines’ about naval visit

President Rodrigo Duterte said he invited China to send warship to visit after Chinese Foreign Ministry dismissed report about plan to build station an in disputed waters

New | China says it is ‘in touch with Philippines’ about naval visit

President Rodrigo Duterte said he invited China to send warship to visit after Chinese Foreign Ministry dis­missed report about plan to build station an in disputed waters

President Rodrigo Duterte said he invited China to send warship to visit after Chinese Foreign Ministry dismissed report about plan to build station an in disputed waters