Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 16) — A former Philippine envoy to Washington on Thursday said there is a big reason behind the summoning of Chinese ambassador Huang Xilian by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and this should be taken seriously by Beijing.
“That does not happen too often and therefore this should be taken with some seriousness,” former Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Cuisia Jr. told CNN Philippines’ The Source.
“The Chinese should, I think, be concerned,” he also said..
On Feb. 14, Marcos summoned the envoy to express “serious concern” over the reported pointing of military-grade laser by the China Coast Guard (CCG) at the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel that was on a resupply mission in the Ayungin Shoal.
The Chinese embassy said in a statement that Marcos and Huang discussed “how to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen dialogue and communication, and properly manage maritime differences between China and the Philippines.”
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin on Wednesday denied the reported laser incident.
“We need to highlight the fact that the China Coast Guard ship did not direct lasers at the Philippine crew, and the hand-held equipment does not inflict damage on anything or anyone on the vessel,\” he noted. \”The Philippine side’s allegation does not reflect the truth.\”
Wang said the ambassador “clarified the facts” with the Philippine leaders and that communication was being done through bilateral liaison mechanisms.
