China’s foreign minister to visit Philippines this week

Chinese Foreign Minister
Qin Gang will make an official visit to the Philippines late
this week and will discuss with his counterpart regional
security issues, including the South China Sea, the Philippines
said on Tuesday.
Qin’s April 21-23 visit will be his first official
engagement with the former U.S. colony since he was appointed
foreign minister and state councillor in December and would
comes amid displeasure in Beijing over the Philippines expanding
U.S. military access to its bases.
Qin and Philippine counterpart Enrique Manalo will discuss
implementing agreements made during President Ferdinand Marcos’
state visit to China in January and the outcome of last month’s
bilateral talks on the South China Sea.
“They will also discuss regional security issues of mutual
concern,” the Philippines foreign ministry said in a statement.
China’s ambassador to the Philippines last week caused a
stir when he accused the country of “stoking the fire” of
regional tensions by offering expanded military base access to
treaty ally the United States, which he accused of interfering.