China and Philippines assess ties

Discussions under way: Chinese and Filipino diplomats meeting at a hotel in Manila. — Reuters

Senior Chinese and Filipino diplomats met in Manila to review their relations amid thorny issues, including Beijing’s alarm over a Philippine decision to allow the US military to expand its presence to a northern region facing the Taiwan Strait and escalating spats in the disputed South China Sea.

Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Sun Weidong and Philippine Foreign Undersecretary Theresa Lazaro led the talks aimed at assessing overall relations yesterday.