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Liu Zhen

Kristin Huang

Philippine President Rodrigo ­Duterte said the South China Sea dispute was “not on the agenda” as he began his state visit to China late on Tuesday, with Beijing praising him for bringing damaged ties back to “the track of dialogue and cooperation”.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said ahead of ­Duterte’s arrival that the visit was “historic” and that no “individual” or “foreign force” could stand in the way of rebuilding the friendship between China and the Philippines. “Our arms are open and ready for friendship and cooperation,” Wang said.
Duterte arrived in China three months after relations between the two nations hit an all-time low, following an international court ruling that there was no legal basis for Beijing’s claims to much of the South China Sea.
Watch: ­Duterte goes big on his state visit to China


The who, what, when, where and why of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s trip to China
Duterte’s delegation includes some 400 business leaders. He is scheduled to meet President Xi Jinping on Thursday.
Arriving at his hotel in Beijing, Duterte said he expected to achieve “plenty of happiness for my country” during his trip to China, according to Reuters.
It might crop up but it is going to be a soft landing for everyone
Philippine President Rodrigo ­Duterte, on the arbitration court ruling
Asked about the South China Sea dispute, he said: “No, that is not one of the topics on the agenda. It might crop up but it is going to be a soft landing for everyone. No impositions.”
Analysts said Beijing would tolerate Duterte raising territorial disputes in the South China Sea during his visit as long as he didn’t push the issue too hard.
Doing so could jeopardise his goal of securing economic aid and business deals, they said. ­“Duterte’s main task in Beijing is to repair bilateral relations and secure cooperation, especially in economic areas, which are critical to him,” Wu Shicun, the president of the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, said.

China also wants the ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague to be forgotten as quickly as possible, according to Xue Li, a researcher at the China Academy of Social Sciences.
As a result, the originally planned two-day trip has been elevated to a four-day state visit, the highest diplomatic level, to honour the Philippine leader.
Duterte will also meet Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and the chairman of the National People’s Congress, Zhang Dejiang.
Playing the US against China may prove a smart move for Rodrigo Duterte
The two presidents will issue a joint statement stressing areas of cooperation and witness the signing of a number of memorandas of understanding and agreements, in areas including agriculture, infrastructure construction, investment and trade, according to the Philippine foreign ministry.
The presidential joint statement would also push forward the approach of resolving the South China Sea dispute through co­operation, Xu Liping, a fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said.
Analysts have said fishery ­cooperation near the disputed Scarborough Shoal could also be on the table.
‘No bargaining’: Philippines’ Duterte says will raise South China Sea issue with Beijing, vows not to deviate from Hague ruling
Commerce Ministry spokesman Shen Danyang said ahead of Duterte’s arrival that China was looking to expand trade links with the Philippines, and that one area would be tropical fruit imports.
He added that China would also encourage its businesses to invest in the Philippines, and strengthen bilateral infrastructure construction.
Wu said China expected and “fully understands” that Duterte would probably raise the arbitration ruling given pressure from the Philippine people and the political opposition. “Otherwise he could not answer to his fellow citizens,” Wu said.
Song Junying, an expert in Asia-Pacific affairs at the China Institute of International Studies, said a brief mention of the arbitration would slightly affect the atmosphere of the talks, but it would be of little consequence as Duterte’s state visit marked a positive turn in relations.
“We could look at this with some tolerance,” Song said.
Wu also said it would be fine if Duterte raised the rulings “symbolically”, but “he’d better not insist on it, or demand to negotiate cooperation under this condition”.
“Duterte clearly understands that he will harvest nothing if he focuses on the controversial Hague ruling during his trip,” said Wu, who is close to the Chinese authorities.
Dai Fan, a Southeast Asia affairs expert at Jinan University in Guangzhou, said both sides had already worked out the agenda before Duterte left for Beijing.
“It is impossible he’s come all the way to Chinese territory to slap China in the face,” Dai said.


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South China Sea

South China Sea dispute ‘not on agenda’ Duterte says after arriving in Beijing

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte arrives at a hotel in Beijing. Photo: Reuters

Wang Yi greets Duturte at airport - CCTV

Playing the US against China may prove a smart move for Rodrigo Duterte

Eduardo Araral and Richard Heydarian say the Philippine leader, who will meet Xi Jinping in a closely watched meeting this week, is right to try to maximise the gains for his country

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte is kissed by a woman as he attends the ceremony marking the anniversary of the Philippines Coast Guard in Manila, Philippines, October 12, 2016. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

In this picture taken on September 28, 2016, alleged drug users are rounded up after a drug raid in a shanty community in Manila. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte defended his threat to kill criminals as "perfect" and vowed no let-up in his war on crime, as the death toll surged past 3,700. / AFP PHOTO / NOEL CELIS

A U.S. Marine from the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, left, practices soccer while waiting to take part in a live-fire amphibious landing exercise dubbed PHIBLEX Monday Oct. 10, 2016 in Crow Valley in Capas township, Tarlac province, north of Manila, Philippines. The combat drill, however, maybe the last under President Rodrigo Duterte, who has opposed the war games partly because they may upset China and because of his disgust over U.S. criticisms of his bloody anti-drug campaign. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

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Philippine president begins state visit that is expected to see economic issues dominate


South China Sea dispute ‘not on agenda’ Duterte says after arriving in Beijing

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Philippine president begins state visit that is expected to see economic issues dominate

Philippine president begins state visit that is expected to see economic issues dominate