Romualdez: Contentious WPS issues to be ‘amicably’ discussed with China

BEIJING — Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Wednesday said issues between China and the Philippines over the West Philippine Sea will be discussed and dealt with in an "amicable" manner.

“We just decided that we will try to emphasize where we have common interests, where we have a lot of cooperation. We will leverage on that good will and we will leverage on all that political, diplomatic capital,” Romualdez, part of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s delegation on his state visit to China, told reporters when asked how the territorial issue in the West Philippine Sea will be tackled.

“I think it will be resolved that we will discuss the contentious issues in a very amicable manner bilaterally,” he added.

Romualdez said “we are open to that approach with the backdrop and foundation of the very, very strong relations that we already have.”

In 2013, the Philippines challenged China over its massive claims on the West Philippine Sea.

Manila scored a victory and a landmark ruling by an international tribunal which invalidated Beijing’s claims.

China has since refused to acknowledge the ruling and continued its activities in the resource-rich region.

Marcos has since said he would assert the country’s sovereign rights when it comes to the territorial dispute. — BM, GMA Integrated News