“The FTAAP, if implemented, will be the largest free trade area in the region, consolidating a myriad of already existing FTAs between China and major economies in the region”, said Richard Javad Heydarian, an assistant professor of political science at De La Salle University in the Philippines.
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A week before the summit, US B-52 strategic bombers flew near Chinese artificial islands, signalling Washington’s determination to challenge Beijing over the disputed sea.
He said one of key tasks highlighted in China’s new five-year plans was to concentrate efforts on infrastructure investment.
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the Philippines on Tuesday (November 17) to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
In Beijing, Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhemin said China did not want the South China Sea to be the focus of the East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur.
“The Chinese government has the right and the ability to recover the islands and reefs illegally occupied by neighboring countries”, Liu said. “We have maintained great restraint with the aim to preserve peace and stability”.
Xi also arrived in Manila on Tuesday, but did not make any public comments.
The air force has placed 13 aircraft on standby, majority helicopters, while the navy has two former U.S. coast guard cutters and a dozen smaller watercraft in Manila Bay.
The Philippines will receive a record US$79 million in assistance to bolster maritime security this financial year, the biggest recipient in Southeast Asia, the White House said.
“This will be a significant contribution for our maritime security capability”, Philippine defence department spokesman Peter Galvez told AFP.
The Philippines has vowed to be a “good host” by keeping the South China Sea off the summit agenda.
The Philippines also plans to sign an agreement with Vietnam on Tuesday to elevate their relationship to a strategic partnership. While Obama was ready to talk up his freshly inked trade deal and military cooperation in Asia, the rest of the world was looking for leadership on the Islamic State’s relentless terror spree.
The 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum is focused on trade and economic issues, but has struggled to keep its annual gathering from being overshadowed by security and geopolitical concerns.
Carlito Galvez, AFP deputy chief of staff for operations, said the soldiers were ordered to be “prepared for everything”, including a possible attack similar to last Friday’s terror strikes in Paris which left at least 129 people dead.
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During his stay in Manila, Xi will deliver an important speech at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, attend the APEC CEO summit and give a keynote speech, and attend the dialogue between the APEC leaders and representatives of the APEC Business Advisory Council. Obama is heading to the Philippines and Malaysia for global security and economi…
