Aquino signals intent to visit China for ASEAN trade expo

Media in the Philippines have reported that President Benigno Aquino III has signaled his intention to visit China for an ASEAN trade expo in September, but neither the Chinese nor Philippine foreign ministries had confirmed the trip on Thursday.

Analysts said it is hard to say whether Aquino wants to offer an olive branch to improve Manila's strained political ties with Beijing, as the expo is only a platform for economic cooperation.

China welcomes more favorable economic cooperation with the Philippines, but Manila's sincerity can only be trusted when it stops playing its card of the South China Sea issue and ceases moves that violate China's territorial integrity in the region, they added.

On Wednesday, Raul Hernandez, spokesman for the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, announced Aquino's intent to attend the 10th ASEAN-China Expo (known as CAEXPO) in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, adding the visit still needs to be confirmed, according to The Philippine Star.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not confirm if it had sent an invitation to Aquino.

The Philippines is the designated "country of honor" at this year's expo, and it is usual for the leader of that country to attend the international trade fair, which is expected to boost trade and economic cooperation in the region.

"This is one proof of the multifaceted relationship with China. We're focusing now on trade and the economic agenda," Manila's presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda was cited by The Philippine Star as saying.

Since the focus is on trade and economics, it is unlikely the territorial dispute in the South China Sea will be addressed during the fair.

The Philippine's China strategy has two sides. While on one hand it keeps playing up the South China Sea issue and seeking every effort to strengthen its bargaining position with China on that, its economy depends largely on cooperation with China, said Ren Yuanzhe, a researcher at China Foreign Affairs University.

"The Philippines has a strong will to boost economic cooperation with China, because Manila has felt great pressure after it had been 'desolated' by Chinese leaders," he said, referring to the Chinese foreign minister skipping the Philippines on visits to other ASEAN nations.

The new generation of Chinese leadership has attached more importance to its neighboring Southeast Asian countries since its debut in March.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has paid two visits to seven member countries of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations since his taking office, but not the Philippines.

"By announcing Aquino's possible China visit, Manila also wants to kick the ball of bilateral relations to China and test the waters," Ren said.

China and the Philippines have suffered from territorial disputes related to the South China Sea since the Philippines illegally occupied some of the islands and reefs of China's Nansha Islands.

"The possibility cannot be ruled out that the Philippines only wants to show a positive stance on its ties with China and draw more support from international public opinion for its own interests on the islands," Ren said.

However, Li Guoqiang, deputy director of the Center for Chinese Borderland History and Geography at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the South China Sea issue is not all that China-Philippine ties are about and the dispute will not impact the cooperation between the two countries.

"CAEXPO is not an appropriate occasion at which to handle political ties with China, let alone the South China Sea issue. The ball is on Manila's side regarding whether Aquino will attend the expo or not," Li said.

Both Beijing and Manila know more economic cooperation is in their best interests, he added.

zhouwa@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 08/16/2013 page11)