Philippines, US set for talks

The Philippines and the United States are in talks about holding a “2-plus-2 meeting” of top diplomatic and defence officials as early as March, the Philippine ambassador to Washington said.

In a text message, Jose Manuel Romualdez yesterday confirmed a Nikkei report citing sources on the discussions about holding the first of such talks in seven years, and said the agenda would include issues such as tension over the South China Sea and Taiwan.