China’s Xi Skipping Asean Meet; Palace Hopeful

Chinese President Xi Jinping is skipping the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit hosted by the Philippines this month, according to highly placed diplomatic sources.

Instead Beijing may send Chinese Premier Li Qiang, although arrangements are not yet final, the sources told The Philippine STAR.

Malacañang expressed hope on Tuesday, Nov. 3, that Xi would attend the ASEAN Summit to be held from Nov. 16 to 18, in the wake of China’s accusation that it was prevented by the Philippines from joining the regional meet.

Asked whether the government remained hopeful that Xi would attend, Palace press officer Claire Castro replied, “We hope so.”

“It would be better if the leadership of China attends because it would be a good opportunity to tackle and resolve any dispute,” she told a media briefing at Malacañang.

The diplomatic sources, however, pointed out that Xi has never attended an ASEAN summit in person. China is also busy preparing to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen from Nov. 18 to 19. President Marcos is attending the APEC summit.

When China co-chaired the ASEAN-China Special Summit on Nov. 22, 2021, marking the 30th anniversary of dialogue relations between the country and the regional bloc, Xi joined only by video link from Beijing.

The Philippines and China are embroiled in a longstanding maritime row over parts of the South China Sea, a strategic sea lane where more than $5 trillion in shipments pass through every year.

A 2016 landmark ruling issued by a Hague-based arbitral court invalidated China’s maritime claim and affirmed the Philippines’ sovereign rights over its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.

China, which claims virtually the entire sea lane, has refused to recognize the decision, describing it as “illegal.”

Last Sunday, Nov. 1, China claimed that Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. had “acted out of personal self-interest” and had obstructed its participation in the ASEAN defense talks held in Cebu from Oct. 28 to 29.

According to a Chinese embassy statement, the Philippine defense department reluctantly sent an invitation to China on Oct. 22 “only after other ASEAN countries expressed strong opposition to such acts.” Castro denied the allegation, saying the Marcos administration would not use power or position to take advantage of anyone.

“Secretary Gibo Teodoro has spoken and he did not block the participation of leaders from countries that are part of the ASEAN defense meeting,” the Palace press officer said.

Castro said China had participated in the event through its defense attaché to the Philippines, Senior Captain Yang Lei.

She also expressed optimism that China’s accusation would not affect the participation of other leaders in this year’s ASEAN summit.

At a media interview in Malaysia last year, President Marcos expressed optimism that a binding code of conduct for South China Sea claimants would be completed under the Philippines’ chairship of the ASEAN.

He said he would “certaintly invite” Xi to visit the Philippines to demonstrate his administration’s sincerity in the negotiations.

“He (Xi) knows, he has quite – a few friends here in the Philippines already. But, you know, that would presume that we have made some serious progress in our talks with them,” Marcos said after the ASEAN Summit held in Kuala Lumpur.

“And so if we get to that point where President Xi will actually consider coming to the Philippines, it would mean that we have made significant progress. And that would be a great thing, that would be just a great thing.”