MANILA, (PNA) — Malacanang denied Tuesday that Pres. Benigno Aquino III was not informed soon of China’s request for him to skip attendance for a trade exposition in Nanning, China where the Philippines is country of honor.
“The President is advised on matters of foreign affairs in a timely and confidential manner,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a media briefing.
According to a report, the Dept. of Foreign Affairs allegedly failed to inform the President of China’s request for Aquino to visit at a “more conducive time” as Aquino confirmed his attendance to the expo last Aug 28.
The report said China made the request as early as Aug 23.
But DFA Spokesperson Raul Hernandez revealed that China had set conditions that prompted Aquino to cancel his trip.
“It would depend on when the conditions were set. He [DFA Spokesperson Hernandez] did mention that there were circumstances but I’m not aware when these were conveyed,” Valte said.
Valte said even with the territorial dispute between the two countries, the Philippines continues to keep a “multifaceted” relationship with China.
“This dispute is not the sum or total of our relationship. Keeping that in mind, it was a demonstration really of how reasonable we are even if there is a dispute and how we manage to work despite these issues,” she said.
“We do not insist or we do not push lalo at imbitasyon ‘yan,” she added.