Who is really the master between us? Philippine President meets Chinese ambassador just as the Ren'ai Reef incident occurs
On July 21, Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. met with China's Ambassador to the Philippines at Malacañang Palace. This meeting had actually been scheduled in advance, but due to a maritime clash between China and the Philippines at Ren'ai Reef on July 20, discussions regarding the Ren'ai Reef incident became one of the main topics during their conversation!
But setting aside what was discussed, just looking at this photo is quite interesting. From the perspective of Chinese customs, the seating arrangement makes it seem as if Ambassador Jing Quan, our envoy to the Philippines, is the host, while President Marcos appears more like a guest being received—lacking any sense of home-field advantage. Of course, for the Philippines, such formalities are not a concern.
As for what exactly was discussed, Ambassador Jing Quan publicly clarified after the meeting that the dialogue was not about one-sided protests or sharp mutual accusations. Instead, both sides fully exchanged views on the Ren'ai Reef issue and bilateral relations between China and the Philippines, including topics such as negotiations over the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. The emphasis was placed on ways to manage differences.
Evidently, the current Philippine president does not wish to completely break ties with China. He still aims to convey through diplomatic channels and tone that the Philippines does not intend to unilaterally provoke conflict.
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Original source: toutiao.com/article/1871382213340299/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.