Marcos to hold bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Thailand

BANGKOK, Thailand — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is set to have a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, just days after he told Chinese officials to uphold international law regarding the West Philippine Sea.

The bilateral meeting is scheduled on Thursday afternoon, on the sidelines of this year’s Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit where economic leaders from across the region have gathered to discuss revitalizing recovery, reviving growth, and integrating inclusivity.

Marcos arrived in Bangkok on Wednesday evening, accompanied by First Lady Mary Louise "Liza" Araneta-Marcos, where he is set to have at least six bilateral meetings.

Just last week, Marcos said he is hoping to discuss issues regarding the West Philippine Sea with Xi during the ASEAN Summit in Cambodia, where he instead met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.

Marcos said he told Chinese officials to uphold international law and follow the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) ruling regarding the disputed areas.

This comes nearly a decade after the Philippines, in 2013, challenged China over its claims on the West Philippine Sea, where Manila scored a victory and a landmark ruling by an international tribunal that invalidated Beijing’s claims.

China has refused to acknowledge the ruling, and was accused by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) just last June of illegal fishing and preventing local vessels from carrying out a resupply mission to the Ayungin Shoal. —KBK, GMA Integrated News