Bongbong Marcos to Chinese envoy: I thought PH was friend of China?

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday expressed doubts about China’s friendship with Ambassador Huang Xilian, Executive Secretary (ES) Lucas Bersamin said.

Bersamin said Marcos called in Huang after the Chinese coast guard pointed a military-grade laser at the Philippine coast guard in February. The ES said Marcos generally did not lose his temper but witnessed the President’s meeting with the Ambassador.

“I was part of that meeting. He summoned that ambassador, and that ambassador was there and stated an official party line. But he said, ‘I thought, I thought the Philippines was China’s friend,'” Bersamin said in a mix of English and Filipino on “Tune in Kay Tuning.”

READ: China’s ‘aggressive behavior’ in the South China Sea must be challenged, a US Navy official said

Marcos also said his talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping did not manifest among the lower ranks, Bersamin said.

READ: ‘No factual basis’: China denies damage to WPS reef

“What we agreed in China with your president did not reach the lowest level,” Bersamin said.

Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea has escalated in recent months. Apart from the laser attack, Chinese ships had damaged several reefs in the West Philippine Sea.

JPV