MANILA, Philippines – Whether or not President Benigno Aquino III will be going to China in September for the China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO), the Philippines is unlikely to bring up the West Philippine Sea dispute with China officials, Malacañang said on Wednesday, August 14.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said CAEXPO will focus on the economic partnerships of countries. “We do not see any possible topics of conversation relating to our situation with China on the West Philippine Sea,” he said.

The Philippines will be hosting this year’s CAEXPO, which is held in Nanning, China annually, so a Philippine delegation will definitely be present, said Lacierda. But China invited Aquino to personally attend as well. 

Some news organizations reported Wednesday that Aquino himself will be going to Nanning for the CAEXPO.

Foreign Affairs spokesperson Raul Hernandez confirmed that China invited Aquino to the Sept 3 event. “The President has signified his intentions to attend CAEXPO in Nanning in September. However, it is not confirmed yet that he will attend,” he said.

Malacañang will “wait for the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) to confirm” whether the President has accepted the invite, Lacierda said.

Lacierda said the expo was not the right forum to address the dispute, given the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) tribunal is currently deciding on it.

“This is an economic and trade agenda. Our concerns on the West Philippine Sea is already being handled by the UNCLOS arbitral tribunal. So the discussions on that area with respect to our situation on the West Philippine Sea has been reserved to the arbitral tribunal to decide.”

He also insisted the country’s relationship with China is “multi-faceted” and does not revolve solely around the dispute. – Rappler.com