Philippines ‘open’ to deal with Beijing to ease South China Sea tension

Philippines 'open' to deal with Beijing to ease South China Sea tension Philippines 'open' to deal with Beijing to ease South China Sea tension

TOKYO — The Philippines is considering establishing new diplomatic arrangements with China to ease tensions in the disputed South China Sea, according to Foreign Affairs Secret Enrique Manalo.

“If there were to ever be such an agreement, it would have to be consistent with our position, that it doesn’t affect our sovereign rights, our sovereignty,” Manolo told Nikkei Asia in an interview on the sidelines of the media company’s Future of Asia conference in Tokyo. “So certainly, there’s a possibility.”