May 9 polls under China’s watchful eyes

China is closely watching developments in the Philippine elections with keen interest. And it is optimistic the next administration will be open to bilateral negotiations with Beijing in order to settle once and for all the ongoing territorial disputes over parts of the resource-rich South China Sea. In an interview with reporters at the sidelines of the European Union National Day held in Makati City Thursday night, Chinese Ambassador to Manila Zhao Jinhua expressed hope that whoever will come out victorious in the May 9 presidential elections will be willing to sit down and talk on a bilateral level with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping about possible ways to resolve the issue. Ambassador Zhao issued this statement as the United Nations-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague is poised to issue its decision in the case lodged by the Philippine government on China’s claims over South China Sea. He [...]