After Marcos, Xi meeting, China says 'friendly consultation' a must on South China Sea issues

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MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. met Chinese President Xi Jinping Thursday in a historic bilateral meeting in Bangkok, Thailand on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit.

Two statements released by the Office of the Press Secretary made no mention of tensions in the disputed West Philippine Sea, supposedly the Marcos' "top agenda," as among the topics discussed by the two leaders.

But a separate statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affaris of the People's Republic of China, which confirmed the meeting, said that "[o]n the South China Sea, the two sides must stick to friendly consultation and handle differences and disputes properly...they should work together to reject unilateralism and acts of bullying, defend fairness and justice, and safeguard peace and stability in the region."

Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/11/18/2224732/marcos-xi-meeting-china-says-friendly-consultation-must-south-china-sea-issues